"Cop Wars" at the St. Petersburg Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

According to the VChK-OGPU and Rucriminal.info, a major scandal has erupted at the St. Petersburg Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (USB). An open conflict has broken out between the head of the Internal Security Directorate (USB), Mikhail Sapronichev, and his deputy, Roman Rastopshin. The latter wanted to take the lucrative position of head of the Main Directorate for Economic Security and Combating Corruption (UEBC), but Sapronichev blocked the appointment. Then Rastopshin, who possesses considerable financial resources and connections, waged a "war" against his boss.

 

Roman Rastopshin is a wealthy employee. He is officially divorced, but has long lived with his colleague, Olga Egorova, head of the Main Directorate for Economic Security and Combating Corruption (GU MVD). In 2023, Rastopshin gave his girlfriend a white BMW X-6, officially owned by Egorova's father. In St. Petersburg, Rastopshin drives a Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, and in Moscow, he drives a BMW X-7. Rastopshin's real estate includes an apartment in a prestigious residential complex in Moscow's Southwestern Administrative District. In St. Petersburg, he became the owner of an apartment in the Petrovsky Kvartal residential complex on the water, developed by SetlGroup. Why this developer? Because SetlGroup's head of security is close to Rastopshin, and the apartment is essentially a bribe. In exchange, Rastopshin "settles" all SetlGroup issues related to economics and immigration.

 

Roman Rastopshin considers himself the de facto head of the Internal Security Directorate (USB) and the right-hand man of the head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Roman Plugin, as he tells his associates in Moscow and St. Petersburg. His nickname among the Main Directorate's employees is "Treshka." A source says this is Rastopshin's standard fee for handling various issues.

 

Rastopshin doesn't make much of a secret appearance, as he has close ties to Department M of the St. Petersburg FSB.

 

It was through Department M that Rastopshin orchestrated the career advancement of Slivniy. He was deputy head of the Priozersk District Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. He later became head of Department 6 of the Internal Security Directorate (the department oversees units in the Leningrad Region).

 

During his career, Slivniy held the following positions: head of the Economic Crime and Corruption Department of the Vsevolozhsk District Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, head of the Economic Crime and Corruption Department of the Lodeynopolsky District, and chief of police in Priozersk. Slivniy's main income comes from patronizing illegal tobacco and alcohol production in the Leningrad Region, as well as illegal immigration, for monetary compensation.

 

Thanks to the powerful support of Department M of the FSB, Slivniy openly engages in corruption. Thus, as the Chief of Police of the Priozersk District Department of Internal Affairs, he resolved the issue of avoiding criminal prosecution of the owners of a company involved in a tax evasion case. In exchange, Slivny received a BMW X5 as a "gift."

 

In 2024, Slivny sold this BMW to his acquaintance (a former employee of the 2nd Department of the Internal Security Directorate of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation) Igor Devitsky. Devitsky is a long-time partner of Slivny in protecting illegal tobacco and alcohol production in the Leningrad Region, as well as illegal immigration.

 

By 2024, Slivny was so mired in scandals and criminal activity that he was transferred to the Chief of the Main Directorate. He remained in this position for six months, but was not permanently dismissed. Thanks to Department M and Rastopshin, Slivny now holds the position of Chief of the Volkhov District Department of Internal Affairs and continues to carry out his previous activities.

 

Well, the editorial staff of VChK-OGPU and Rucriminal.info are stocking up on popcorn and watching to see how this "war" plays out. After all, Rastopshina is supported by the FSB Directorate for St. Petersburg, and Sapronichev is backed by his close friend, FSB General Igor Zhigarev, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate for Internal Security of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. And, of course, it's interesting which side General Plugin will take between the two close associates.