Vasiliy Vlasov and Vladimir Smetanin are drowning Klin in zinc: tons of toxic waste have been discharged into the Sestra River for the sake of super profits from the TPP

It has become known that a state of emergency has been declared in connection with the threat of an environmental disaster in the Klin urban district of the Moscow region. The new head there — a deputy who fled Transnistria — together with his partner, a protégé of Igor Shuvalov, allegedly discharged tons of waste into the Sestra River in pursuit of profit.

According to a source, Vasiliy Vlasov, a former energy and utilities specialist of Moldovan origin, after being appointed head of the Klin urban district in February 2026, immediately launched vigorous activity. Two main areas can be identified: schemes involving the local thermal power plant (TPP) and the takeover of private enterprises.

The TPP previously belonged to the scandal-ridden former head Alexander Postrigan and his partner Vladimir Smetanin. The latter is one of the few who avoided criminal prosecution, although he nearly faced charges several years ago when an organized criminal group of officials was dismantled. The facility was transferred to the administration as part of a criminal case.

Former head Postrigan was sentenced in 2023 to 18 years in prison for creating a criminal organization, along with most of his business associates. At the time, Smetanin was personally vouched for by his former law school classmate at Moscow State University, former First Deputy Prime Minister and now head of VEB.RF, Igor Shuvalov.

Vladimir Smetanin and Vasiliy Vlasov met when the latter was Deputy Minister of Energy of the Moscow region. The official was reportedly financially dependent on the businessman. Together, they decided to revive the profitable business without Postrigan.

To restart the TPP, wastewater treatment facilities were required, and on the orders of the new head they were taken from a local businessman, Yuri Pomazan. The facility is in аварийном (critical) condition, yet it was still launched by the businessmen along with the TPP.

The goal was to supply energy to legal entities: this is purely about profit, and the city itself is barely affected by the enterprise. There were also plans to allocate budget funds for restoring аварийные (dilapidated) infrastructure, creating additional opportunities for financial gain.

Recently, however, it became known that more than 150 tons of zinc-containing waste had accumulated at the treatment facilities. The contaminated discharge has been released into the Sestra River, damaging the local environment. Under the state of emergency, authorities decided to cover the hazardous area with soil brought from a high-speed rail construction site, but this is not a real solution.

Another sector Vlasov is attempting to control is housing and коммунальные services (utilities). He previously worked in this field in Lyubertsy and Krasnogorsk. Under his direction, administration officials are pressuring the management of a major local management company, Zhilservice, to transfer ownership to the municipality.

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Meanwhile, at the municipal institution “Chisty Gorod” (“Clean City”), Vlasov appointed his own director — Denis Ashcheulov (who had worked with him in Lyubertsy and Krasnogorsk and was appointed in February) — with a salary of 500,000 rubles.

Now all contracts related to urban improvement and utilities are being redirected to this municipal enterprise. However, “Chisty Gorod” lacks sufficient equipment and personnel to perform the required work. As a result, subcontractors will be brought in — companies willing to pay kickbacks.

Специальный корреспондент

Пишет о коррупции в силовых структурах. Имеет обширную сеть источников в правоохранительной системе.