The Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia continues to investigate the criminal case of the murder of 9-year-old Victoria Gnedova in the Orel region.  The girl disappeared in June this year, and as a result of well-planned investigative actions and operational-search activities the suspect in this crime - a local resident Shavkat Shayakhmedov - was identified and detained.

In the course of further investigation, investigators from the Central Office received information about Shayakhmedov's involvement in another particularly grave offense. In July 2005 in the village of Kazar, Zalegoshchensky district of Orel Region, an 11-year-old child went missing.  Initial investigative actions and operational measures failed to establish his whereabouts.

During the verification of this information, a set of investigative and operational measures was conducted with Shayakhmedov, during which he gave detailed testimony about the circumstances of the crime he had committed and indicated the location of the dead child's body. As a result of the inspection of the area with the involvement of volunteers of the interregional search association "Koster" the remains were found, as well as items of clothing of the missing child. The defendant fully admitted guilt, explaining that 16 years ago the child went with him to the woods for mushrooms, and there the man strangled him.

Forensic and DNA examinations have been appointed.

Shayakhmedov is currently being tested for involvement in other crimes against minors.

  

Official spokesperson for the Investigative Committee of Russia S. Petrenko