News

Criminal investigation into murder of businessman Solomon Gavrilov and other killings of businessmen in Moscow and the Moscow region in 2005-2007

The Investigation Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation in the Central Federal District is about to complete the investigation of the criminal case against members of a stable armed group (gang), which committed the murder of Solomon Gavrilov in 2009 in Moscow, as well as killings of three businessmen and the attempted murder of a businessman in Moscow and the Moscow region in 2005-2007. Criminal charges have been brought against 25-year-old Dmitry Makarenko, 28-year-old Yuri Khasanov, as well as 22-year-old resident of the Moscow region - Grigoriy Shevchenko. Depending on the role of each, they are accused of committing crimes under Part 2 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code (participation in the gang), Paragraphs "a, g, h" of Part 2 of Article 105 of the Criminal Code (murder for hire), Part 3 of Article 222 of the Criminal Code (trafficking in weapons). 

According to the investigation, in 2005, 31-year-old resident of the Moscow region Andrey Safronov created a gang to commit murders and other crimes for hire in respect of entrepreneurs. The gang consisted of two friends of him: Makarenko and Khasanov, and later in 2009 Shevchenko joined them. It has been found that members of the gang were watching their victims for a long time and used illegally acquired cold weapons and fire arms when killing them. According to the distribution of roles, attacks on victims were carried out by Makarenko and Khasanov, and in the latter case, Shevchenko followed the victim and gave a signal to act for the performers of a murder. The gang ceased to exist in December 2011 in connection with the detention of most of its members by law enforcement officials. 

The organizer of the gang Safronov, who was charged and remanded in custody in absentia, has been put on the international wanted list. The suspected hirer of Gavrilov’s killers Yuri Israilov is on the international wanted list, as well. At present the investigation is establishing paymasters in other crimes committed by the gang. 

Makarenko made a pre-trial agreement on cooperation, in connection with which a criminal case against him has been separated and will soon be sent for approval of the indictment and subsequent submission to the court for consideration on the merits. In addition, the investigations against Khasanov and Shevchenko are nearing completion, in this connection, in the near future, they and their lawyers will begin familiarization with the materials of the criminal case.