News

The investigating bodies of the Russia’s Investigative Committee in Krasnodar Territory have charged 41-year-old Yuri Skripalyov with killing 61-year-old Russian Orthodox priest Nikolai Medentsev (part 1 of article 105 of the RF Penal Code).

As it has been reported earlier, the priest’s dead body was found in the trunk of his Audi on 19 October after it had crashed in a tree. At the same time the priest’s house was burning. The search and investigating operations have found that 41-year-old Yuri Skripalyov, who had been husband of the victim’s niece, was involved in the crime. According to investigators, Skripalyov and his ex-wife had had a dispute over property, which the court ruled in favor of the woman. Believing that the priest was supporting his niece, in the morning of 19 October the accused came to the priest’s house to sort things out. The priest did not want to talk and Skripalyov punched and kicked him. After the priest fell on the floor, Skripalyov took a cord and strangled him. After that the accused hid the body and fled the scene. Skripalyov was detained by investigators on hot scent and the court ruled to place him in custody.

At present investigating operations are underway necessary to find all the circumstances of the crime and to gather evidence proving that Skripalyov was involved in arson and hijacking of the priest’s car.

Head of Media Relations                                                                                                    V.I. Markin