Billionaire’s go-ahead, boss’s escape to vacation, and death in a cell: how russian Themis drove Aliya Galitskaya to suicide, while guilty prosecutors avoided punishment
Journalists had access to the materials of the prosecutor’s investigation into the circumstances of Aline Galitskaya’s suicide, who was sent to a pretrial detention center at the nod of her ex-husband, billionaire Alexander Galitsky. The initiation of all criminal cases against the woman was deemed unlawful, as was the motion for her detention, but the culpable prosecutors got off with reprimands and warnings.
According to a source, at the height of the prosecutor’s internal investigation, the prosecutor of the Moscow region, Sergei Zabaturin, unexpectedly went on vacation, so the results were signed by his first deputy, Gantsev. Readers can familiarize themselves with the full text of the investigation in the photo. In short, it was established that the decisions to initiate cases against Alia for extortion and slander were "premature," since the investigation had no "objective data" or "evidence" "of the commission of extortion and threats to disseminate defamatory information." There were also "no grounds for selecting a preventive measure in the form of detention."
The leadership of the Istrinsky prosecutor’s office could not have failed to see this, but recognized all the investigation’s actions as lawful and deemed the decision to request her arrest as justified. This is where things get really interesting. The investigation notes, albeit very superficially, that all materials concerning Galitskaya were overseen and personally signed by the first deputy prosecutor, Zakharov. For example, the written conclusion on the validity of the motion to select a preventive measure for Alia in the form of detention should have been prepared by the prosecutor’s assistant, Povyshev, who participated in the court hearing, but it was done personally by Zakharov.
According to the investigation’s findings, senior prosecutor’s assistant Denisov formally checked "compliance with the conditions of detention of the suspect" in the IVS. It’s unclear what exactly is meant by this phrase, but the materials indicate that "remote observation of Alia was conducted via video surveillance camera." Despite this, Alia hanged herself with stockings that she attached to the crossbar of the second bunk bed.
The investigation materials also strikingly downplay the role of Istra prosecutor Ruzlyaev in all the events. As if he knew nothing about what was happening and simply failed to supervise his subordinates.
As a result, first deputy prosecutor Zakharov was punished with a reprimand. Prosecutor’s assistants Novruzov, Denisov, and Povyshev received "warnings." And prosecutor Ruzlyaev was punished "with money"—his quarterly monetary bonus for the first quarter of 2026 was reduced by 95%.
What was left out of the investigation’s findings.
Zakharov is a longtime and very close friend of Ruzlyaev, from the days when they shared an office. Zakharov is also known for not making any significant decisions, especially those concerning a billionaire’s ex-wife, without coordinating with Ruzlyaev.
Ruzlyaev, in turn, is a friend and a person extremely close to prosecutor Zabaturin, who "fled" on vacation in the midst of the investigation. Zabaturin, who has been pushed toward resignation "a hundred times," holds his position solely thanks to curators from the FSB of Russia. As our project previously reported, it was based on FSB materials that a criminal case was initiated alleging that Alia Galitskaya was preparing an attempt on the life of Alexander Galitsky’s lawyer, Alexander Dobrovinsky. It was precisely the "news" that she was about to be charged with the corresponding accusation that led Alia to decide to end her life.
Earlier, now former judge of the Istrinsky court, Fyodor Grigoriev, admitted that the order to issue a ruling on Galitskaya’s arrest came directly from the chairman of the Moscow Regional Court, Alexei Kharkov.
As a result, we have proven and acknowledged by all agencies facts that all cases against Galitskaya were fabricated, she was unlawfully sent to a cell where she was intimidated with a new fabricated case to such an extent that she took her own life. Moreover, the "Galitskaya matter" was handled by the highest leaders of the investigative bodies, prosecutor’s office, and court. However, none of them suffered any consequences, while lower-ranking employees were either dismissed or got off with reprimands and "warnings."
Galitsky himself, who organized the persecution of his ex-wife, was "dispossessed" for supporting Ukrainian startups through his American fund, but faced no repercussions for the Alia story. That topic was simply "buried" and is no longer mentioned.
