Relatives told the outlet Fonar that Polezhayev had died. Fonar did not provide further details, and no official confirmation of the former official's death had been issued at the time of publication.
The pro-war Telegram channel Zapiski Veterana claims Polezhayev served in the Belgorod volunteer formation BARS in the "counterterrorism operation zone" — a counterterrorism operation regime was introduced in the Belgorod region. According to the channel, he sustained severe injuries from a drone strike and could not be saved. Shot describes the circumstances in the same way: injuries from a drone strike, and he could not be saved.
Polezhayev was 54. He served as mayor of Belgorod from 2015 to 2019. He was re-elected in September 2018, but in January 2019 he stepped down early and moved to the regional government, where he became a deputy governor and head of the housing and utilities department. Among other things, he was responsible for rebuilding Shebekino and Novaya Tavolzhanka after shelling.
In July 2023 he was dismissed for "systematic failure to perform his duties" and "poor organization of work to restore housing" in those settlements. Shortly after his resignation, Polezhayev was detained by Federal Security Service (FSB) officers in a case of accepting a large bribe (Article 290 of the Criminal Code).
According to investigators, he received two premium-class cars worth more than 17 million rubles from the director of a construction company in exchange for a promise to accept work on the construction of wastewater treatment facilities. The court found that the luxury cars were handed over in exchange for patronage in the awarding of state contracts and the acceptance of work.
In August 2024, a court sentenced Polezhayev to five years in a strict-regime colony and a fine of 36 million rubles. In his final statement, he said he had signed a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry and was ready to sacrifice his life.
Polezhayev signed the contract with the Defense Ministry several days before the verdict. In October 2024, the Belgorod Regional Court, acting on a request from a military unit commander, suspended proceedings in the case and released him from custody for the duration of his service.
After that, Pepel wrote that Polezhayev was in fact only nominally listed with the Belgorod BARS and was spending his time at home. The regional operational headquarters denied this.
Accounts differ: Pepel claimed Polezhayev served only nominally and was at home with his family, while the regional operational headquarters denied this, and the pro-war Telegram channel Zapiski Veterana reports that he served in the Belgorod BARS in the "counterterrorism operation zone" and died from a drone strike. The cause and circumstances of his death have not been officially confirmed.