The Chairman of Russia’s Investigative Committee organizes a teleconference on Pskov orphans’ housing rights
On 3 December, 2025, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia held a personal reception by teleconference for orphans from the Pskov Region. The agenda for the reception was the issue of housing provision.
Alexander Ivanovich Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, conducted a reception for housing applicants from the Pskov Region via video conference. The reception was attended by First Deputy and Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee E.V. Kaburneev and S.N. Goryaynov, as well as heads of departments of the central apparatus of the agency.
It started with a letter from a group of ROOF Beneficiaries
Several members of our Pskov Post-Orphanage Club (Adelgeim Centre) submitted a request for action to the appropriate authorities in 2025. The group had little idea that their request might make its way to the desk of Russia’s Chief Investigating Officer.
All the applicants who came to speak to the Chairman of the Investigative Committee on December 3rd were individuals from among children-orphans and children left without parental care. Applicants’ questions concerned the provision of housing to which they are entitled by law. Almost all of those who appealed already have court decisions in hand, ordering the provision of housing to them, though their apartments have yet to be allocated.
Another matter broached by the applicant group relates to the value of so-called housing certificates. In recent years, orphanage leavers have been able to swap out of long queues for state-provided housing, opting instead to collect a housing certificate which can be used to buy real estate. Applicants informed Bastrykin that the current value of certificates issued does not effectively satisfy applicants’ needs; at 1.3 million rubles (16,500 USD) for non-urban municipalities and 2.5 million rubles (31,800 USD) in Pskov and Velikiye Luki, certificate values are insufficient to cover the true cost of real estate purchase.
Bastrykin heard a report from the head of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Pskov Region, P.N. Krupenya. A.I. Bastrykin noted delays and red tape in the work of subordinates and issued appropriate instructions to hold those responsible accountable.
Pskov bureaucrats tasked with specific assignments to improve the situation
The leadership of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Pskov Region was given specific assignments, including the consolidation of all criminal cases into a single proceeding that can be promply dealt with, also taking into account the verification of facts relating to possible embezzlement in housing cases which are delaying housing allocation.
Bastrykin set specific deadlines for the execution of these assignments. In case of non-compliance and continued delays, a repeat reception on this issue will be held and further managerial decisions will be taken.
As of January 1, 2025, more than 1,500 orphans in the Pskov Region were entitled to housing provision. Bastrykin reminded all present that the implementation of housing rights for orphans is one of the most important issues in the field of child protection, to which the state must pay special attention.
