Corruption scandals that regularly happen to Russian governors have caused, are and will cause widespread public outcry. Unfortunately, there have been more frequent cases when the heads of regions have vested interests prevailing over state ones. A vivid example of this is the ex-governor of the Tula region Vyacheslav Dmitrievich Dudka. If not for the high-profile case of bribery, his biography could have been considered impeccable. The official had so many regalia and government awards that they would be enough for ten. What was his path to the political Olympus and how could he become the leader of a whole region? Consider these issues in more detail.
Curriculum Vitae
Vyacheslav Dmitrievich Dudka is a native of the city of Tula. He was born on April 23, 1960. For many years, the father of the future official held a leading position in the large enterprise Tulavtotrans.
After school, Vyacheslav entered the local Artillery Engineering School, after which he received a red diploma.
Start of work
In the period from 1982 to 1998, Dudka was in the Armed Forces of Russia, occupying senior positions, including: assistant to the leading engineer of the military mission, chief engineer of the military mission, head of the military mission group, senior head of the military missions of the Grau Tula region.
Career in science
In the late 80s, Vyacheslav Dmitrievich Dudka received the degree of candidate of technical sciences, defending a thesis in the field of the theory and methods of calculating a multi-channel control system. A decade later, he will receive a government award for achievements in science and technology. And in 2000, Pipe will become the owner of a prize to them. Mosin.
Then he will become a professor, and then an honorary doctor of Tula State University.
Work in the Design Bureau and social activities
In the late 90s, Vyacheslav Dmitrievich took a leading position in the State Unitary Enterprise "Instrument Design Bureau". A graduate of the Tula Higher Artillery Engineering School devoted much time to establishing external contacts of the enterprise, talking with foreign representatives of defense plants and systematically traveling abroad as a member of the delegation.
In 2004, Dudka Vyacheslav Dmitrievich, whose biography undoubtedly deserves a separate consideration, is actively engaged in social activities, working with the organization "Academy of Security, Defense and Law and Order Problems", where he is awarded the honorary titles of academician and professor. But after some time, this structure is closed.
Fateful acquaintance
In the spring of 2003, Vladimir Putin arrived at the Instrument Design Bureau. It is here that Vyacheslav Dmitrievich for the first time shakes hands with the head of state. Dudka told the guest of honor about the history of the enterprise, its achievements and potential development paths.
The president was satisfied with what he heard and praised the narrator, calling him a "smart guy." In addition, he included Vyacheslav Dmitrievich in the personnel reserve.
Peak career
Already in 2005, from the KBP employee, Dudka turned into a major regional official, taking the chair of the governor of the Tula region. In the spring, the president nominated Dudka for consideration by the regional duma. Soon, the deputies entrusted him with a high post.
The media at that time reported that the new head of the region was a “dark horse”, and the political establishment of the region was rather indifferent to the fact that Vyacheslav Dmitrievich Dudka replaced Vasily Starodubtsev as a communist.
In the fall of 2007, a graduate of the Tula Higher Artillery Engineering School joined the United Russia party.
Confrontation
Belonging to the ruling party strengthened the position of Dudka in the state apparatus of the region. He often traveled to Moscow to meet with the head of state and the prime minister, so he believed that his position in power structures was solid, like no other.
However, Vyacheslav Dmitrievich after some time there was a serious competitor - "United Russia" Vladimir Gruzdev. After Dudka took the position of the head of the region of the Tula region for the second time, the local bureaucracy began to become dirty in corruption cases. And positions in power began to weaken gradually. At first, Dudka refused to buy the Tula Gingerbread Internet portal for a million dollars, where they wrote incriminating material about him, then the phones of the governor’s closest circle were under wiretap of the FSB, but he did not attach any importance to this. Just in conversations about bribery, the official replaced the word “money” with “sheepskin coats” or “material for scientific work”.
"Expulsion from Paradise"
Rumors that the Tula governor and his team were taking bribes very soon reached the Kremlin. The second tenure in high office for Vyacheslav Dmitrievich was short-lived: in July 2011 he was relieved of his duties as head of the region. A month later, Dudka was "expelled" from the ruling party with the wording: "for discrediting the party in the eyes of the public." The official demanded monetary compensation from United Russia due to the fact that he resigned.
Criminal case
In the fall of 2011, investigators accused Vyacheslav Dmitrievich of committing a crime. He was charged with taking a bribe. As a preventive measure, house arrest was chosen.
Prior to the trial of his case, Dudku was ordered not to leave the territory of a private home ownership that belonged to the father of the ex-governor. Living in a luxurious mansion located two dozen kilometers from Tula, the accused was not supposed to give any comments to journalists, contact anyone on the phone or use the Internet.
Court
The criminal case was heard in December 2012. The prosecutor demanded an adequate punishment for receiving a bribe, namely 9.6 years in prison. During the court hearing it was established: in November 2010, a certain Viktor Volkov, who headed the regional department of property and land relations, and Vyacheslav Dmitrievich wanted to get a bribe for giving the GRINN Corporation a lease for a period of 3 years. Officials valued their services at $ 40 million.
Punishment
Volkov received 2.5 years for committing a crime, and the ex-governor of the Tula region was sentenced to 9.5 years in prison. Also, Vyacheslav Dmitrievich was supposed to compensate the state for the damage caused in the amount of 900,000 rubles. In addition, he was forbidden to hold public office, previously received awards were withdrawn, and regalia was canceled. Dudka Vyacheslav Dmitrievich was not ready for such a turn of events. The official’s family, consisting of a wife, two sons and a daughter, was shocked by what had happened.
Naturally, Dudka's lawyers seemed to have such a verdict unjustified, and they filed an appeal. However, the higher court upheld the verdict .
Of course, Dudka Vyacheslav Dmitrievich himself (children: the eldest son Dmitry, the youngest son Vyacheslav, daughter Maria) denied his guilt in committing the crime, and called the verdict of the court “lawlessness”. But the Russian Themis was unfavorable to the official. So ended his career Dudka Vyacheslav Dmitrievich. Where does the convict serve his sentence? In the fall of 2013, the bribe-taker was transferred to IK No. 1 (high security), located in the city of Donskoy, Tula Region.
This resonant case was in the TOP of the most high-profile arrests that occurred with the Russian "servants of the people" over the past 15 years. The rating was compiled by the well-known BBC service. What else could Vyacheslav Dmitrievich Dudka count on? Amnesty, of course, could save him from imprisonment. But his case did not fall under the list for parole.