Russia Targets Its Own Judges? Basytrkin Launches a Legal Earthquake

This hasn't happened in years. If ever.
The Investigative Committee of Russia has just pulled the pin on a political grenade — and thrown it straight into the heart of the country's judicial system.
We're talking about something almost unthinkable: a request to open criminal cases against six judges.

Yes — six sitting or former judges, some of them high-ranking, are now under serious scrutiny.
And this isn't coming from some obscure department — the request was filed by Alexander Bastrykin, the head of the Investigative Committee himself.

⚖️ Who's on the list?

According to an official statement published by the High Qualification Collegium of Judges (VKKS), the following individuals are now being reviewed for potential prosecution:

🔹 Adam Voitlev — judge of the Shovgenovsky District Court, Republic of Adygea
🔹 Olga Petrova — deputy chair of the Leninsky District Court, Kursk
🔹 Mukhamed Tembotov — justice of the peace from Nalchik (retired)
🔹 Valery Tarasov — former chair of the Smolninsky District Court, St. Petersburg
🔹 Karine Golikova — judge of the same Smolninsky Court
🔹 Vyacheslav Kruglov — judge of the Krasnoslobodsky Court, Republic of Mordovia

In addition, a separate request was made to detain Valery Kozlov, former chair of the Yurgomysh District Court in the Kurgan region.

💼 What are they accused of?

Media outlets and the VKKS documents cite specific criminal codes in the charges:

— Tarasov is suspected under Article 291.1 Part 4 — mediating bribery
— Golikova — Article 290 Part 6 — receiving a large-scale bribe
— Kruglov — Article 305 Part 1 — delivering knowingly unjust court rulings

These are not mild disciplinary actions. These are serious criminal charges, and the Investigative Committee is formally asking the VKKS for permission to proceed.

🌍 One judge is reportedly in Cyprus

Another headline-grabbing case: Alexander Chernov, former chair of the Krasnodar Regional Court, is said to be living in Cyprus.

According to RBC, his representative has received a notice about the upcoming VKKS session. The committee may soon terminate his retirement status, potentially paving the way for legal action.

Why Cyprus? Why now? Observers are already asking questions.

🔥 Enter Igor Krasnov

Perhaps the most symbolic element of this unfolding drama is that Igor Krasnov, the newly appointed Chairman of the Supreme Court of Russia, is set to personally attend the VKKS hearing.

Krasnov is known for his strict anti-corruption stance, having previously served as Russia's Prosecutor General.

In his final interview in that role, he famously said:

"The easiest way to protect yourself from judicial claims is to behave lawfully and socially responsibly."

In other words: behave — or be removed.

🤔 What's really going on?

Experts are divided.

Some say these are isolated cases.
Others see the beginning of a systematic purge — and a shift in how power is managed within the judiciary.
A few even suggest that Krasnov is clearing out the old guard to consolidate control.

But one thing is clear: this is not normal business.
Not in Russia.
Not when judges themselves — the ones who usually pass judgment — become the judged.

📢 Important:

All information presented here is based on official publications from VKKS and credible Russian news outlets including RBC.
We do not assert guilt or innocence — we are relaying what is publicly known and available.