Corrupt official of the year: In Russia, 821 properties were found and confiscated from the former mayor of Vladivostok Hundreds of properties belonging to Vladimir Nikolaev, the former mayor of the Russian city of Vladivostok, have been seized, along with dozens of companies associated with him. In total, the police found 821 properties belonging to Nikolaev, including 322 apartments, several hotels, and 12 plots of land, with a total value of almost $200 million. In addition, the property of 16 companies affiliated with Nikolaev was seized. The Prosecutor General's Office emphasized that all these assets were obtained through corruption. According to documents, almost all of the property belonged to his mother. Vladimir Nikolaev held his post from 2004 to 2008. At that time, he was found guilty of abuse of power and exceeding his official authority, sentenced to 4.5 years' suspended imprisonment, and banned from public service for three years.