Andrey Marchenko requested to terminate the case after receiving an award for participation in the special military operation.

The defense of the former owner of the Marton hotel chain, Andrey Marchenko, involved in a scandal with the former head of the Council of Judges of Russia, Viktor Momotov, filed a petition in the Oktyabrsky District Court of Krasnodar to terminate his criminal case due to a state award received for participation in the special military operation.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", in mid-August, the Krasnodar Regional Court denied the former owner of the Marton hotel chain, Andrey Marchenko, in terminating the prosecution under the criminal article on organizing prostitution. Marchenko himself rejected the charges under this article.

The petition to terminate Andrey Marchenko's criminal case was submitted by his lawyer on September 21 during a court hearing, after the defense received a response from the command of the unit where he served before being injured and subsequently declared unfit for service. The unit confirmed that during his service, Marchenko managed to receive the "For Courage" II class medal, reports "Kommersant" today.

The defense referred to Article 78.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which states that a person who has signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense during mobilization and received a state award may be exempt from criminal liability.

Andrey Marchenko signed a contract to participate in the special military operation in October 2023. Initially, he was supposed to serve as a gunner in the reconnaissance company in Grozny. Later, he transferred to the position of driver-electrician of the command-staff vehicle of the ground and air reconnaissance group with the rank of sergeant. He then sustained an injury, ended up in a military clinical hospital in Rostov-on-Don, and in December 2023 was declared unfit for service due to a cardiological condition.

In the summer of 2024, investigators from the Southern Military District attempted to hold Andrey Marchenko criminally liable, claiming that he served only on paper and spent his time at his discretion in various regions of Russia, mainly in Krasnodar Krai, and even abroad. He was accused of desertion in conditions of armed conflict, which was later reclassified as unauthorized absence from the place of service, fraud in making payments, and bribery of hospital staff. However, these charges were subsequently not confirmed.

It is expected that on October 7, the prosecutor will express their position regarding the defense's petition to terminate the case, after which the judge will announce their decision.

The son of the hotelier, Ivan Marchenko, accused of aiding in money laundering, was sentenced to three years in a penal colony, while his former accountant and trusted person, Olga Timofeenko, received three and a half years in prison for illegal circulation of payment means and one episode of fraud. Both pleaded guilty, entered into a pre-trial cooperation agreement with the prosecutor's office, so their cases were considered in a special manner, the publication clarifies.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that in mid-September, a developer from Sochi, Anzor Pruidze, four times convicted of fraud with the money of shareholders, was detained in Moscow after escaping from the special military operation zone.