Official Who Led Wartime Asset Seizures Quietly Reinstated After Dismissal – Fontanka

Aug. 20, 2026 Sergei Bochkarev. ossetia.tv The senior official who spearheaded the Russian government’s wave of private asset seizures since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been quietly returned to his job after Prosecutor General Alexander Gutsan reportedly dismissed him last month, the news outlet Fontanka reported Wednesday, citing a source familiar with the matter. The official, Sergei Bochkarev, headed the Civil and Judicial Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office. Under his direction, the government nationalized around 6.5 trillion rubles ($81.45 billion) in private assets since 2022. Bochkarev’s most high-profile targets included Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport, food manufacturer Makfa and gold miner YUGK. In July, sources told the newspaper Kommersant that Gutsan dismissed Bochkarev after the chief prosecutor had publicly criticized him earlier for the mismanagement of confiscated properties, which he warned was undermining efforts to return them to the market. However, earlier this week, several Telegram channels reported that Bochkarev had been returned to his post at the Prosecutor General’s Office. A source familiar with the situation confirmed the reinstatement to Fontanka, an online news outlet based in St. Petersburg. President Vladimir Putin reportedly intervened directly to restore Bochkarev to his position, issuing an executive order that nullified Gutsan’s dismissal order. Officials have not publicly commented on any of the reports about Bochkarev’s dismissal and reinstatement. Bochkarev joined the Prosecutor General’s Office in 2010 and built a reputation leading high-profile investigations, including against disgraced anti-corruption police officer Dmitry Zakharchenko, which led to the largest cash seizure in Russian law enforcement history. Read more about: Prosecutor General 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 Prosecutors Seek to Nationalize Russia’s Oldest Music Publisher Founded in 1918, Muzyka grew into a Soviet-era monopoly and remains the publisher of works by Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Shostakovich. 1 Min read Russia’s Top Prosecutor Applies for Supreme Court Chief Justice Post The top court position has been vacant since the death of the previous chief justice, Irina Podnosova, more than a month ago. 1 Min read Russia Labels Independent News Outlet SOTA 'Undesirable' The General Prosector’s Office claimed the outlet receives support from the West, with “the goal of undermining... Russian society.” 2 Min read Russia Bans U.S.-Funded Rights Group Freedom House Russia's Prosecutor General said the rights group had called for "comprehensive assistance for Ukraine to defeat Russia" and had "discredited" the military... 1 Min read