The Savyolovsky District Court of Moscow sentenced former head of the 27th Central Research Institute of the Defense Ministry, Andrei Protasov, to 13 years in a maximum-security penal colony in a bribery case. TASS reported this, citing its correspondent in the courtroom.
In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a 20 million ruble fine on Protasov. He was found guilty on several counts of accepting bribes under Parts 2, 5, and 6 of Article 290 of the Russian Criminal Code, as well as abuse of office under Clauses “v” and “e” of Part 3 of Article 286.
The 27th Central Research Institute, which Protasov previously headed, develops and implements modern technologies for the benefit of the Defense Ministry. According to the prosecution, he was responsible for forming working groups that carried out research.
Investigators said that from 2020 to 2025, Protasov took money from subordinates in exchange for including them in a scientific group. According to the prosecution, those included later received incentive payments, as well as general patronage and leniency in service matters.
The research, according to investigators, was financed through major state contracts. TASS writes that Protasov received at least 7 million rubles from colleagues in total. The court also ordered the confiscation of his property in that amount.
The criminal case against the former institute head became public in April 2025. After his detention, the same Moscow court placed him under house arrest. The case was submitted to court for consideration in January 2026.