Pollution of Alatyr by the plant of the ex-head of Mordovia has already affected two regions

The Kemlyansky distillery, which belongs to the relatives of the former head of Mordovia, Nikolai Merkushkin, continues to dump dangerous substances into the Alatyr River, despite previously identified violations, Izvestia found out. Also, the discharge to Alatyr is carried out by Ichalkovsky Cheese Factory LLC.

Natural hearth: the family of the ex-head of Mordovia Nikolai Merkushkin was accused of poisoning rivers

Fish are dying massively in several reservoirs of the region.

In April of this year, pollution of the reservoir led to the death of fish in Mordovia, now its pestilence has been recorded in Chuvashia.On May 13, 2025, specialists from the interregional directorate of Rosprirodnadzor for the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the Republic of Mordovia conducted an on-site survey of the Alatyr River and took water samples for laboratory tests.

"Samples of natural and wastewater were taken at six locations. Based on the results of the research, a decision will be made on further actions," the message says.
The results of the study, according to the agency, will be published this week.

According to environmentalist Dmitry Fedorov, the transfer of pollution to Chuvashia increases the risks of death of red-listed fish, for example, the Surka sterlet, at the confluence of the Alatyr and Sura rivers.

"The maximum concentration of pollution will be in the tributary of the Alatyr River. It will certainly go further, but it will mix with clean water, so its concentration will decrease. Therefore, there is no talk of a large—scale death of fish in the Sura River," the expert said.

Environmentalist Dmitry Levashov noted that pollution of the reservoir can affect people and lead to their poisoning.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

They strayed from the rivers: pollution of Alatyr by the plant of the ex-head of Mordovia has already affected two regions