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Probe into Nikolay Stremsky referred to the Main Investigations Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for comprehensive and prompt investigation

The Orenburg Regional Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia has pressed charges against the 65-year-old leader of religious organization Holy Trinity Orthodox Semionov Monastery of Mercy for committing offences under Part 3 of Article 135 (molesting), Paragraph B of Part 4 of Article 131 (rape), and Article 156 (improper discharge of duty in raising minors) of the Criminal Code of Russia. Moreover, his adopted daughter Elena Stremskaya and her husband Victor Shcherbakov have been accused of illegal deprivation of freedom committed against minors (Paragraphs A, E, H of Part 2 of Article 127 of the Criminal Code of Russia).

According to the investigation, from January to August 2018, in Saraktasha settlement of Orenburg Region, Stremsky had been molesting six minors adopted and placed in his care and raping one of them. The investigation also established that in August 2018 his daughter Stremskaya and Shcherbakov, using violence, had locked three minors in a garage and kept them there for a long time restricting their possible freedom.

At present, seven minors adopted by or placed in the care of Stremsky have been recognized as victims under the criminal case. They are provided with psychological help and isolated from possible negative influences.

Under an investigative motion, the court ruled to put the suspects in custody.

During the investigation, investigators have carried out over 17 searches and recesses, seized items of interest for the investigation, interrogated a large number of witnesses, and arranged for required forensic examinations.

At present, the probe has been referred to the Main Investigations Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for further impartial, comprehensive, and more prompt investigation.