Former Belgorod mayor Konstantin Polezhaev reported dead after joining war effort
Relatives say ex-mayor Konstantin Polezhaev has been killed while serving in the conflict, though his role appears to have been largely symbolic.
Former Belgorod mayor Konstantin Polezhaev, who served from 2015 until 2019 before becoming deputy governor for housing and utilities, is said to have been killed in the ongoing war, his relatives reported. After being removed from his regional post in summer 2023 for inadequate reconstruction work, he faced corruption charges and was sentenced in August 2024 to five years for accepting vehicles valued at 17 million rubles.
In a final statement he announced a contract with Russia’s Defense Ministry and expressed willingness to die for the cause. While some accounts claim he went to the front, other reports list him only as a member of the BARS mobilization reserve, suggesting his involvement was nominal and he remained at home with his family.
Why it matters
The death highlights the involvement of former regional officials in Russia's war and raises questions about corruption and mobilization practices.
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