Former Aeroflot CEO Arrested in Moscow, Reports Say

June 23, 2026 Mikhail Poluboyarinov. Kommersant The former CEO of Russia’s state-owned airline Aeroflot has been arrested and faces corruption charges, Russian media reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter. A judge from Moscow’s Tver District Court ordered Mikhail Poluboyarinov to be placed in pre-trial detention on charges of abuse of power, according to the exiled news outlet Mediazonaю The exact details of the allegations against him remain unclear. Poluboyarinov headed Aeroflot from November 2020 to March 2022, stepping down from the airline shortly after the European Union sanctioned him. In 2023, he joined the state corporation Rostec, according to the news outlet RBC. Before his tenure at Aeroflot and Rostec, Poluboyarinov held prominent roles at Vnesheconombank, the State Transport Leasing Company and the state development corporation VEB.RF. A senior business executive told the newspaper Vedomosti that the criminal probe may stem from Poluboyarinov’s work at VEB.RF between 2009 and 2019. Another source familiar with the case said that the specific incident under law enforcement scrutiny took place in 2016, but did not provide further details. Artem Dovlatov, a deputy chairman of VEB.RF and board member of the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation, was arrested in May, Vedomosti wrote. He was placed under house arrest on charges of abuse of power related to a 2016 bank reorganization. Read more about: Aeroflot , Court cases Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Opposition Politician Shlosberg Returned to House Arrest Pending ‘Discreditation’ Trial The Pskov City Court had ruled earlier this week to impose a ban on certain activities instead of continuing Lev Shlosberg’s house arrest. 2 Min read Moscow Court Jails Estonian Museum Director in Absentia Over Anti-Putin Banner Maria Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova first drew attention in 2023 for hanging a banner on the walls of Narva Castle, which overlooks the Russian border town of... 1 Min read Moscow Court Jails 5 Pussy Riot Members in Absentia Over ‘War Fakes’ Maria Alyokhina, the most high-profile member, received the highest prison sentence of 13 years and 15 days in absentia. 1 Min read Russian Court Orders Baring Vostok's Calvey to Be Kept in Custody Until April The judge said Calvey, a U.S. citizen, was accused of a "serious crime" and could try to flee.