Former Russian Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology Denis Butsaev has reportedly been placed on the federal wanted list. According to sources, his departure from Russia was allegedly arranged by Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, a longtime associate and close family friend.
Sources claim Butsaev left Russia via the Minsk–Tbilisi route and later traveled to the United States, where he is said to have held American documents while still serving in a senior Russian government position.
Butsaev was widely seen as a figure closely connected to Rostec and its CEO Sergei Chemezov. With support from Manturov and Chemezov, he allegedly rose through key government roles and gained access to major financial projects.
Particular scrutiny has focused on Butsaev’s tenure at the Russian Environmental Operator. Investigators are reportedly examining the “Secondary Raw Materials Exchange,” a digital platform promoted as a state-backed marketplace for recycled materials. However, sources allege the platform was privately controlled and may have been used to channel public funds through affiliated companies.
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The case intensified in February 2026 after the detention of Ekaterina Stepkina, a senior REO executive described as a close associate of Butsaev. Reports say she cooperated with investigators and provided testimony against her former superior, after which Butsaev allegedly fled the country.
The broader investigation is linked to the failed waste-processing plant construction program overseen by Rostec. The project, presented as a major federal initiative, reportedly collapsed after substantial funding was spent without the promised facilities being completed. Sources suggest Butsaev may have become the central figure held accountable in the unfolding corruption probe.
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