Russia’s Council of Higher Qualifications of Judges has denied the former Supreme Court judge the status of a retired judge, leaving him without judicial immunity, Kommersant reported on May 25.
Momutov, 65, has been retired since October 8, 2025; He left the position of judge of his own free will when the Prosecutor General’s Office demanded the confiscation of 95 properties worth nine billion rubles from him.
Momutov denied that the seized property belonged to him. Speaking at the board meeting, he described the incident as a disaster for him and his family:
After nine months of public shame, and after countless sleepless nights, I stand before you. You know me well, I worked for 16 years in the Supreme Court… Is it really possible that during these 16 years you have not seen how I live, what my income is?! I have an apartment, a 14-year-old car, and I don’t even have a “billionaire’s” country house.
The panel of judges considered Momutov’s case within half an hour. The secret vote on his case lasted several minutes. He was removed from the judiciary for negative reasons, which deprived him of the title of retired judge.
The title of retired judge gives the right to a monthly allowance for life, as well as guarantees of personal safety and the provision of medical services and sanatoriums. If someone is deprived of this status, these guarantees are lost.