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The Tver Region investigating bodies of the Russia’s Investigative Committee have finished investigation against 65-year-old resident of the village of Mirny, Torzhok District, Tver Region Mikhail Golubev charged with the murder of deputy of the Tver Region Legislative Assembly, chairman of the Mir collective Farm Nikolai Popov (part 1 of article 105 of the RF penal Code). Golubev is alse accused of crimes under part 1 of article 222 and part 1 of article 223 (illegal manufacturing of firearms; illegal storage, transportation or carrying of firearms).

It was reported that the dead body of 69-year-old deputy of Tver Region Legislative Assembly and chairman of the Mir collective farm Nikolai Popov was found in the morning of 23 September 2015 on the outskirts of the village of Spass, Torzhok District, Tver Region. Over 30 people from among victim’s friends and relatives, including deputies of the Tver Region Legislative Assembly were questioned on the first day of the investigation. The testimonies and analysis of the initial investigation gave reasons to believe that the most likely version of the crime was that the murder was lined to Popov’s management of the collective farm, where he had tough HR policy.

The man involved in the murder of the deputy was detained on 2 October 2015 as a result of joint efforts of the investigators of the Tver Region Investigations Directorate, criminalists of the Investigative Committee Central Office and operative officers of the Tver Region Office of the Russian Ministry of the Interior and the Main Crime Detection Office. It was resident of the village of Mirny, Torzhok District, Tver Region Mikhail Golubev, who had worked in the collective farm under the direction of Popov. The initial investigation, including detailed examination of the crime scene, correct versions and modern forensic tests helped to solve the crime in a short time.

The investigators found that in 2015, Golubev who had worked over 38 years on the Mir collective farm, over 32 of which in executive positions, had an intention to kill Popov because the latter had refused to take him back to work on the farm. To commit the crime, the accused decided to use a 16 caliber cartridge he possessed legally and a sawn-off gun he possessed illegally.

About 6 AM, 23 September 2015, Golubev knowing that at that time Popov would leave his household in his car, took the gun and walked to his house in the village of Spass and hid in the bushes. After Popov had gone past the gates and left the car to close the gates, the accused got into the car and hid on the back seat. When the deputy got back into the car and left the village, the accused shot at Popov once through the back of the driver’s seat. Wounded Popov drove the car into a field and managed to get out the car, but the accused hit him four times on the head with the gun. After the crime Golubev headed for home. On his way he took the gun apart and threw the parts along the road to the village of Mozhaytsevo, Torzhok District, which were later found by investigator criminalists of the regional investigations directorate and workers of the Russian Emergencies Ministry using high-tech forensic technologies.

The investigators have enough evidence so the case with the approved indictment is going to be sent to court to be tried on the merits.

Head of Media Relations                                                                                                                          V.I. Markin