Did the world judge go to the SVO after Bastyrkin's presentation?

      The head of the Investigative Committee wants to present Kazan resident Marcel Gafarov with illegal wiretapping and surveillance during his service in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tatarstan.

      The status of magistrate Marcel Gafarov (in the center) was obtained at the session of the State Council of Tatarstan in 2023. Photo: State Council of RT

      The threat of criminal prosecution hangs over former colonel of the criminal investigation department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tatarstan, and now magistrate of Kazan Marcel Gafarov. Recently, he received a call from Moscow inviting him to a meeting of the Supreme Qualification Collegium of Judges of Russia, after which he abandoned previously scheduled cases and went to the Special Military Operation (SMO), sources from "Real Time" report. The reason lies in the agenda of the meeting — Alexander Bastrykin is asking for the consent of the Supreme Qualification Collegium of Judges (VKK) to change the judge's status to that of a suspect-accused. More details can be found in the publication's material.

      What is said and what is omitted in the VKK agenda

      Today, magistrate Marcel Gafarov has only one meeting scheduled, whereas he was supposed to conduct seven this week — according to data from the magistrates' district No. 4 of the Moscow district of Kazan. Such a small number is explained by the judge's vacation, from which he was supposed to return today. Sources from "Real Time" predict that Gafarov's processes will be disrupted. At the level of rumors, information has emerged in the judicial community — even before his vacation, Marcel Baryevich warned colleagues that he might not return. He did not provide any explanations. However, on July 3, the website of the Supreme Qualification Collegium of Judges of the Russian Federation published a preliminary agenda for July 13-17, indicating that next Monday it is planned to consider the submission of the head of the Investigative Committee regarding the magistrate from Kazan, Marcel Baryevich Gafarov. The meeting on this issue is scheduled for 4 PM. On July 13, the VKK plans to consider submissions from Alexander Bastrykin regarding three judges, including the Kazan resident.

      Before this, VKK members are set to make decisions on two more submissions from Alexander Bastrykin — they concern judge Natalia Dolgikh and the chairwoman of the city court, Elena Stepantsova, from the Kemerovo region. The head of the Investigative Committee is requesting consent to initiate cases regarding three frauds and embezzlement concerning the first, and regarding two episodes of fraud with social payments concerning the second.

      Which article Bastrykin wants to hold the Kazan resident accountable under is not stated in the agenda. As sources from "Real Time" explain, this is related to the fact that the case materials regarding unidentified individuals, in which they want to include Marcel Gafarov, are currently classified. And most likely, the VKK meeting on this part will also be held in a closed format — without media representatives.

      As "Real Time" found out, Gafarov may be charged with a crime unrelated to his activities as a judge. It concerns abuse of power (Article 286 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) with the organization of illegal operational-search activities involving employees of the criminal investigation department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tatarstan, whose "killer" department Gafarov headed four years ago. He retired in 2022, and in December 2023 was elected as a magistrate at the session of the State Council of Tatarstan.

      Source: Gafarov was interrogated as a witness

      The details of the case are also classified. However, some information about it leaked into the public domain even before the case was initiated — relatives of one of the convicted Tatarstan residents complained about illegal surveillance, wiretapping, and gathering information about personal lives.

      The case of abuse of power with illegal wiretapping has been initiated against unidentified individuals and is classified. Real Time / realnoevremya.ru

      The complaints were not addressed immediately, but it is said that even several years after those events, traces of fabricated grounds for the "development" of unsuspecting individuals were found in the materials of operational-search activities. For what purpose it was conducted, what the security forces uncovered, and whether there was a specific customer for the illegal operational-search measures — this, in fact, constitutes the mystery of the investigation.

      As noted by one of the sources from "Real Time," the work of the security forces on this case was not a secret for Marcel Gafarov — he was even summoned for questioning as a witness about six months ago to the Investigative Committee building on Naki Isanbet Street in Kazan. It is said that several other former representatives of the security bloc were also interrogated in the same status.

      Later, the materials collected in the case of unidentified individuals were sent to Moscow for the preparation of a submission to Bastrykin. And now the case has reached the Supreme Qualification Collegium of Judges of the Russian Federation. But whether the scheduled consideration of the "Kazan" issue on July 13 will take place remains to be seen.

      Could the acting judge have signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense?

      Three sources from "Real Time" claim: Marcel Gafarov did not wait for the consideration of the question about his fate and left Kazan, sharing with his close circle — he signed a contract and is heading to the SMO zone.

      When this happened — the information varies. According to some data, on June 26, the Kazan magistrate was called by the VKK and informed about the scheduled meeting, and by the 29th, he had left Tatarstan. According to other information, Gafarov departed in the middle of last week, while still remaining an acting magistrate.

      In 2015, as a result of work on the "Mamshov" case, Marcel Gafarov was awarded by the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tatarstan, Artem Khokhorin.

      The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tatarstan's website

      It is said that the Investigative Committee and the leadership of the judicial system of Tatarstan quickly learned about what happened. They made a number of inquiries and established — Marcel Gafarov did not sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense in Kazan. And if he had signed one — it would have been a violation of current legislation, as no one has yet relieved him of his duties as a judge.

      One of the sources insists that the military contract with the magistrate was signed by representatives of the volunteer formation "Bars" (under this name several organizations operate — ed.). Whether the retired colonel went directly to the combat zone is still unknown.

      According to current legislation, a participant in the SMO as part of a volunteer formation is entitled to social guarantees on par with military personnel; however, the status of a volunteer does not provide "amnesty" from criminal prosecution...

      Whether the VKK will consider the question regarding Marcel Gafarov in his absence remains to be seen.

      Maria Zvereva / realnoevremya.ru

      Previously, in his position in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Marcel Gafarov fought against Tatarstan groups and participated in the investigation of serious and especially serious crimes. These include the assassination of the general director of Kazan Vodokanal, Grigory Arutyunov, in 2004, and the execution of Kazan numismatist Yevgeny Tarasov in 2018. The colonel was also involved in the development of organized crime groups "Kuskovo" and "Mamshovo" in Nizhnekamsk. More than 10 years ago, attempts were made to frame Gafarov on behalf of the latter group — simulating a bribe of 1 million rubles through a lawyer. As a result, the lawyer ended up behind bars.

      As sources from "Real Time" in the judicial community note, there were no complaints about his work in district No. 4 of the Moscow district of Kazan; however, he was elected as a magistrate for only 3 years, and the term of these powers expires in December 2026.

      Whether the VKK will consider the question regarding Marcel Gafarov in his absence remains to be seen. Currently, the security forces do not have the authority to declare the servant of Themis wanted. The unlikely option cannot be ruled out — what if the hastily departed "to the front" magistrate decides to return?

      Irina Plotnikova

      More news about the event:

      The head of the Investigative Committee wants to initiate a case against Kazan judge Marcel Gafarov.

      The news service of the article's author

      Magistrate of district No. 4 of the Moscow district of Kazan, Marcel Gafarov, may become a figure in a criminal case. 10:31 06.07.2026 ProKazan.Ru - Kazan

      The head of the Investigative Committee wants to initiate a case against judge from Kazan Marcel Gafarov.

      Alexander Bastrykin's claims against the Kazan resident concern the period of service in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tatarstan.

      Photo: 08:55 06.07.2026 Real Time - Kazan

      Did the magistrate go to the SMO after Bastrykin's submission?

      The head of the Investigative Committee wants to present Kazan resident Marcel Gafarov with illegal wiretapping and surveillance during his service