The prosecution requested a six-year prison sentence for Ivan Gel.

As reported by "Kavkazsky Uzel," Ivan Gel, head of the Ilovlinsky District, was charged with abuse of office causing grave consequences (Article 286 of the Russian Criminal Code). According to investigators, he sent unauthorized administration employees to extinguish the fire, resulting in the death of 52-year-old Alexander Pereyarin from burns and the injury of three of his colleagues. On August 7, the court ruled to return the case to the prosecutor's office. In October 2025, the Volgograd Regional Court upheld the appeals of the prosecutor's office and the victims against the decision of the Ilovlinsky District Court to return the case of Ivan Gel, head of the same district, to the prosecutor's office. The case of abuse of power due to the death of Gel's subordinate in a steppe fire was returned to the trial court. In February, a witness confirmed that Gel forced his subordinates to participate in firefighting and interfered with the work of emergency services.

The Ilovlinsky District Court held oral arguments in the case of Ivan Gel, accused of causing grave consequences. During the hearings, the prosecutor requested a six-year prison sentence for the official, with a two-year ban on holding public office, Kommersant reported on April 25.

The defense team representing the deceased head of the district's Civil Defense and Emergency Situations Department, Alexander Pereyarin, agrees with the charges, while Gel's lawyer and a representative of the three victims stated that the tragedy was an accident and that the district head is innocent.

Gel declined to speak; he is expected to make his final statement at the May 7 hearing, when the verdict is scheduled to be announced.