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Investigators consider money as main motive in Khovanskoye cemetery crimes

The Moscow Directorate of the Investigative Committee continues the investigation into the murder of three people during a shootout and hooliganism that took place on Khovanskoye cemetery. So far there are 14 people under investigation, including the head of the Moscow territorial department of ritual services No 3, Ritual, a state-financed institution Yuri Chabuyev and former police officer of the Khamovniki District Police Department Nikita Moshenko. Depending on the role of each one they are suspected of crimes under Part 2, items “a” and “g” of Article 105 of the RF Penal Code (murder of two or more people committed by a group of people in collision), Part 1 of Article 222 (illegal purchase, transfer, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of firearms or ammunition) and Part 2 of Article 213 (hooliganism committed by a group of people).

Today the investigation is going to ask a court to remand all 14 suspects in custody pending trial.

On 14 May 2016, three people were killed and more than 30 were wounded during a fight and a shootout near the central entrance to Khovanskoye cemetery in Moscow. All the wounded were taken to hospitals and are getting necessary medical aid, while three of them are still in grave condition.

40 investigators and 12 expert criminalists are working on the case.

At present they are considering money as the main motive for the crimes. The nationality motive has not been confirmed.

A non-lethal Kalashnikov machine gun, two non-lethal pistols and over 300 objects have been confiscated from the crime scene to be processed for the evidence during more than 18 forensic tests. Over 100 people have been questioned.

The investigators are going to assess the activity of Ritual funeral agency, as well as the actions and omission of law-enforcement officials, which might have contributed to the crime.

At present a number of investigative and search operations are underway to find out all the details of the crime.

Head of Media Relations                                                                                                                             V.I. Markin