The collapse of Svetlana Radionova’s favorite: how racketeer Alexander Galushkin burned himself on million-dollar bribes and is now trading in kompromat at the prosecutor’s office
It has become known that Alexander Galushkin, the deputy head of the Lower Volga Interregional Department of Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources (Rosprirodnadzor) and a close associate of the agency’s head Svetlana Radionova, is facing serious problems.
An off-road vehicle and two apartments in new residential complexes in Volgograd were found to be registered to him, allegedly purchased with “unverified income of corrupt origin.” Galushkin has been dismissed from his position, the property is set to be confiscated, and a criminal case may soon be opened. This all reportedly happened just before Radionova was preparing to transfer him to Moscow.
According to prosecutors, the now former official acquired a new foreign-made car and two apartments in Volgograd between November 2023 and December 2024 using corrupt proceeds. He registered the property in his mother’s name.
At the request of the regional prosecutor’s office, the Dzerzhinsky District Court of Volgograd is preparing to consider the case against the former deputy head of the interregional Rosprirodnadzor office. The assets are expected to be confiscated in favor of the state.
Alexander Galushkin, not yet 30 at the time, reportedly came to Moscow on official matters and made a strong impression on Rosprirodnadzor head Svetlana Radionova. Almost immediately, he was appointed deputy head of the interregional department. Throughout his rapid career rise, he frequently thanked Radionova and, prior to the property scandal, claimed that “Svetlana” would soon promote him to the central office of the agency. According to a source, Galushkin often boasted about his connections at both federal and regional levels, emphasizing his supposedly “untouchable” status.
Following the start of a preliminary corruption investigation, Galushkin reportedly offered to cooperate and promised to hand over “materials” on major federal and regional figures in exchange for his own case being limited to dismissal and the confiscation of only two apartments (while his total assets are significantly larger). The situation is still developing.
