News

The Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for St. Petersburg has finished the investigation of the criminal case against Igor Talkov's concert director, Valery Shlyafman. He is accused of murder and attempted murder committed in a manner dangerous to the public (Article 15, paragraph "d" of Part 2 of Article 102, paragraph "d" of Part 2 of Article 102 of the Criminal Code of RSFSR).

The investigation established that in October 1991, during a conflict that sparked backstage at the “Yubileyny” Sports Palace between the accused and a representative of one of the artists, Igor Malakhov, Shlyafman, in an attempt to shoot Malakhov with a revolver, fatally wounded Talkov.

In 1992, Valery Shlyafman, who was hiding in Israel, was charged as a defendant in absentia by the investigative authorities for committing murder by negligence. However, after the investigation of the criminal case was resumed in 2021, investigators from the Investigative Committee of Russia, based on the collected evidence, have concluded that Shlyafman was involved in committing intentional crimes. A significant amount of investigative work was carried out: more than 150 witnesses were interviewed across Russia, including pop artists, Sports Palace employees, and police officers who were present at the scene. A number of genetic studies were carried out, and experts who conducted examinations in 1991-1992 were questioned. One of them provided pieces of Shlyafman's shirt with traces of blood, which became crucial for establishing the suspect's involvement in the murder.

Based on the results of the investigation, the criminal case has been sent for the approval of the indictment and subsequent transfer to the court for consideration on the merits.