An official in Kuban is suspected of embezzling funds from the budget for the development of the Cossacks.

Security officials conducted a search of the home of Alexander Tararykin, head of the Krasnodar Krai Department of Cossack Affairs, on suspicion of abuse of power.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on September 29, 2018, Acting Vice-Governor of Krasnodar Krai Alexander Vlasov announced his resignation due to his departure for the front with the Kuban Cossack Brigade. A few hours later, he was arrested for embezzlement of funds intended for military personnel. On September 30, Vlasov was sent to a pretrial detention facility, and his arrest was extended until the end of February. Vlasov, a veteran of combat in Chechnya and Georgia, served as deputy head of the Krasnodar Krai since 2020, and as ataman of the Kuban Cossack Host, Russia's largest, since 2021.

Tararykin took over the department just over a year ago, in December 2024, and was reappointed to this post by Governor Veniamin Kondratyev in late January. Prior to this, he held the positions of deputy head and head of the Kuban Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, according to journalist Andrei Koshik on his Telegram channel.

Searchs are underway at the detained official's home, Interfax reported, citing a source in Kuban security agencies.

Officers from the regional FSB department participated in the official's arrest. The case is related to the misappropriation of budget funds allocated for the development of the Cossack community: investigators believe that, under Tararykin's influence, the Kuban Cossack Host entered into unfavorable contracts with regional media outlets for at least 15 million rubles. The deals were financed from state program funds, according to RIA Novosti.

The media outlets with which the unfavorable contracts were concluded were established by the Krasnodar Krai administration – the Kuban-24 media holding and the Kubanskie Novosti newspaper, according to Utrenny Yug.

Law enforcement agencies in the Krasnodar Krai have not officially released any reports of Alexander Tararykin's arrest.