Two Russian Far East legal battles drag on despite supreme court rulings

Two high-profile legal cases in Russia's Far East remain unresolved, despite recent decisions by the supreme court. Susanna Rozhina, whose sentence was reduced in late December, stays imprisoned due to an ongoing appeal. Meanwhile, businesswoman Gulnara Uvarova faces mounting financial pressure as her company's bankruptcy hearing approaches.

Susanna Rozhina received a favourable ruling on December 29, 2025, when a supreme court granted her petition for a lighter sentence. Instead of release, she remains in custody after prosecutors filed an appeal on January 12, 2026. The delay has raised questions, as slow document processing since December may suggest attempts to keep her from returning to Yakutsk. Her next hearing is set for March 19 in the Primorsky Regional Court, with a dismissal of the appeal potentially securing her immediate freedom.

In a separate case, Gulnara Uvarova's legal troubles deepen. The Arbitration Court of the Sakha Republic is reviewing a petition to declare her company bankrupt over 58.4 million rubles in unpaid taxes. Uvarova also faces a separate lawsuit for property damages linked to tax evasion, totalling over 50 million rubles. She claims unnamed third parties will cover part of the debt by the end of February, though the next hearing on April 8 will determine the outcome.

As of March 2026, Rozhina's case has drawn little public attention in Yakutia, with no documented impact on wider political or societal discussions. Uvarova's financial disputes, however, continue to unfold in court.

Rozhina's release now hinges on the March 19 appeal decision. If dismissed, she could walk free immediately. Uvarova, meanwhile, must address her company's debt crisis before the April 8 hearing. Both cases highlight ongoing legal delays and financial disputes in the region.