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Four suspected of illegal selling of adulterated alcohol detained in Krasnoyarsk Territory

The Krasnoyarsk Territory investigating bodies of the Russia’s Investigative Committee during an investigation into death of residents of the city of Krasnoyarsk of adulterated alcohol poisoning have detained four young men suspected of a crime under paragraph “c” of part 2 of article 238 of the RF Penal Code (production or selling of unsafe goods or products if it entailed grievous bodily harm or death of a person).

Four residents of the city of Krasnoyarsk, men aged 22, 24, 26 and 33 years, were detained as a result of investigative operations well-planned and carried out by the regional investigative committee. It has to be noted that one of the suspects came to the police and confessed to the crime.

According to investigators, the men sold adulterated alcohol in the Internet: they received orders and then delivered them. During searches in the flats and garages of the suspects the investigators have confiscated over 300 boxes of different alcohol, including bottles labeled Jack Daniel’s. All of that has been sent for tests.

At present the accused are being questioned and supply chains are being looked into. Restraint is expected soon. The investigators are taking measures to identify and detain their accomplices, who according to some information, may be in other regions of Russia. In addition, the investigators are checking a version that the adulterated alcohol had been brought in Krasnoyarsk Territory from Moscow Region. As of now 8 people in the region have died of adulterated alcohol poisoning and more than 30 people, including 5 teenagers, are in hospitals.

Because there is a real threat to lives and health of many citizens who can buy adulterated alcohol, the Krasnoyarsk Main Investigations Directorate has asked the regional prosecutor’s office to immediately take measures, including those connected with limiting access of people to websites selling alcohol. Such websites are illegal and can be entered by all users, including underage ones. In addition, due to the current critical situation the investigating bodies sent appeals to the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing for Krasnoyarsk Territory and Yeniseysk Office of the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media so that they take measures within the legal competence.

The Investigative Committee is concerned with the alcohol poisoning situation, all the more so as such tragedies happen in different regions of the country. I remind that the investigating bodies are investigating 10 cases into death of people in Krasnoyarsk Territory, Moscow and Kursk Regions, and the Chuvash Republic. 18 people died in those regions. Analyzing the situation as a whole, the main thing now is to find all places where this poison is being produced and prevent the situation from repeating itself, especially on the eve of New Year, when the demand for alcohol goes up. Our task is to figure out the whole chain, from producers to sellers. This is why the Investigative Committee has ordered operative services to find all persons involved in production and spread of poisonous alcohol, as well as to locate all storage places and to confiscate dangerous alcohol as soon as possible.

During those investigations the Investigative Committee is going to find out the reasons and conditions that made for the crimes and give legal assessment to actions (omission) of officials of state authorities in charge of controlling quality and circulation of alcohol.

Head of Media Relations                                                                                                                               V.I. Markin