Former judge Elena Khakhaleva, wanted in Russia, lives in Georgia, Russian media reports.

Elena Khakhaleva's lawyer, Yaroslav Krasnoshchokov, stated in court that the former judge of the Krasnodar Territory District Court, who is wanted, lives in Tbilisi.

"She is indeed wanted. In addition, her whereabouts are known to the investigative bodies. She lives in Tbilisi," the lawyer said.

According to Russian media, former judge Elena Khakhaleva became involved in a scandal in 2017 after her daughter's expensive wedding, which cost $2 million. After the scandal, Khakhaleva became known in Russia as the "Golden Judge".

Former judge Elena Khakhaleva was charged with fraud in 2021, after which she left Russia. In 2022, the Rostov Regional Court sentenced her to imprisonment in absentia. According to the investigation, Khakhaleva was absent from work for 127 days in 2016-2019, and by deceiving employees who recorded her working hours, she illegally received more than a million rubles. In January 2025, Khakhaleva was arrested in Azerbaijan, but a Baku court did not satisfy her extradition request.

The Russian Prosecutor General's Office is demanding the seizure of the assets of the former judge and her relatives.