The key facts

  • Sergei Kornilov's pre-trial detention extended by three months
  • The defense sought house arrest and filed a motion to recuse the judge — both motions were denied
  • Kornilov has spent 4.5 months in the pre-trial facility since the May 2026 crash

Court extends detention for three months

A court has extended the pre-trial detention of Sergei Kornilov, a resident of Nizhny Novgorod charged with a drunk-driving crash on the Pokhvalinsky exit ramp in May 2026, by three months. A NewsNN correspondent reports from the courtroom on the decision made at the hearing on November 9; the publication is cited by Gazeta.Ru.

Defense arguments and rejected motions

The defense asked to transfer Kornilov to house arrest. According to NewsNN, the lawyers argued that their client had already spent 4.5 months in the pre-trial detention facility 'under strict regime conditions,' suffers from a number of illnesses, had no prior criminal cases, paid fines for speeding, and expressed remorse. They also claimed that he would not be able to violate traffic rules again, since his driver's license had been revoked for two years. The court denied the motion. In addition, the defense filed a motion to recuse the previous judge, insisting on his personal interest in the case — this request was also denied. According to the defense, the pre-trial restriction had earlier been changed from a ban on certain actions to detention allegedly because Kornilov left to get medication.

Case background

Earlier, in May 2026, Gazeta.Ru already reported on this incident, stating that the son of a millionaire from Nizhny Novgorod caused the crash. The extension of detention means Kornilov will remain in the pre-trial facility for at least another three months; the publication does not report the date when the case will be heard on its merits.