News

The Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia finished investigation of a probe into illegal hunting and use of violence against district state inspector of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Baikal State Natural Biosphere Reserve Sergei Krasikov on the territory of the Altacheisky reserve in the Republic of Buryatia.

Upon instruction of the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia the probe was referred to the Central Office due to wide coverage of the situation in the media and the initiation of a criminal case against Sergei Krasikov by the regional investigative bodies into abuse of authority at arresting poachers. 

According to investigation, on October 4, 2021 the inspector Krasikov detained poachers Sergey Rusin, Alexander Bukholtsev, Vyacheslav Afanasyev, Sergey Randin and Anton Milokhov that arrived to the Altacheisky reserve and illegally harvested two roe deer. During the arrest, the poachers tried to hide in a car and knock down Krasikov, in connection with which he fired warning shots in order to detain the vehicle of the violators and in self-defense. After that, the inspector disarmed Rusin, who did not fulfill his demand to give up the carbine. In the course of the investigative actions, it was established that the poachers could clearly hear Krasikov's commands from the car, his uniform and the paraphernalia on it were visible. In addition to the initial testimony of the accused themselves, in which they admitted their involvement in the crime, their guilt is confirmed by material evidence, the results of examinations and other materials of the case.

In this relation Rusin, Bukholtsev, Randin and Milokhov were charged under Part 2 of Article 258, Part 2 of Article 318 of the Criminal Code of Russia (illegal hunting, use of violence against a representative of authority).

The probe and criminal prosecution of Krasikov were terminated due to lack of criminality in his actions.

The investigation gathered enough evidence; therefore, the criminal case with the approved indictment has been sent to the court to be tried on the merits.