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In Khabarovsk Territory, investigators looking into animal cruelty and other crimes committed by three young people

The sixth department of the Investigative Committee’s Directorate based in the city of Khabarovsk continues investigating a case against residents of Khabarovsk: two teenage girls and an 18-year-old man. Depending on the role of each one they are charged with crimes under Part of Article 245 (animal abuse), part 2 of Article 162 (robbery), Part 1 of Article 148 (public blasphemy) and Pat 1 of Article 282 of the RF Penal Code (hatred incitement).

By now all the cases have been joined in a single lawsuit and the accused are in custody.

As became known earlier, from June to August 2016, two 17-year-old girls sadistically killed at least 15 animals (dogs, cats and pigeons) on the second floor of an unfinished building in Yungov Street in Khabarovsk. In addition, one of the accused met a 20-year-old man online with the intention of committing a crime. She brought him to an abandoned building, where the other of the accused was waiting for them armed with a bat and an air gun. The girls attacked the young man demanding money. The victim tried to fight back, but got hit on the jaw. He managed to run away eventually and did not report the crime to the police.

The investigators also revealed that one of the accused posted on her page in a social network pictures clearly expressing disrespect to the society and blasphemy.

The investigators were able to do that thanks to cooperation with operative units of the Khabarovsk Territory Offices of the Interior Ministry and Federal Security Service. The investigators have run more than 200 operations (searches, examinations, interviews, face-to-face interrogations) and assigned more than 20 examinations and inquiries in a short time.

The investigators also believe that one of the girls and the 18-year-old young man filmed and cut a social-disparagement-related video involving a man. They posted the video in a social network and showed to the man’s colleagues in order to humiliate him.

At present, the two girls are going to be evaluated, while a forensic ballistic, medical, DNA, biological and kettle-raising examinations. Objects similar to animal hairs, bullets from an air gun and a Sputnik razor blade were found in the back pack of the one of the girls during a search. Additionally, the three accused are being checked on membership in religious sects.

The investigators are actively looking into the reasons and conditions that had made the crimes possible. Respective requests have been filed with the Governor of Khabarovsk Territory, Director of the Far Eastern branch of the Russian State University of Justice, Head of the Education office of the Khabarovsk City Administration and the chief of the Khabarovsk Territory Police Department.

Considering that the unfinished building in Yungov Street has been a crime scene for a long time, the investigators have requested all the information on accidents and crimes that happened there. The analysis of that information has shown that teenagers had fallen from the fourth floor many times and sustained severe injuries. Therefore, the investigators are going to give legal assessment to the actions (omission) of the officials of the Far Eastern branch of the Russian State University of Justice responsible for safety on the premises of the university and see if there are signs of negligence under Part 2 of Article 293 of the RF Penal Code.

The work to find out the reasons and conditions that had contributed to the crimes committed by the young people in Khabarovsk Territory will be continued.

Acting Head of Media Relations                                                                                                                 S.L. Petrenko