A court has recognized the evidence collected by the Main Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee sufficient to convict one of the organizers of the gang and extremist organization Militant Organization of Russian Nationalists (BORN) Nikita Tikhonov. He was found guilty of crimes under part 2 of article 282.1 of the RF Penal Code (membership in an extremist community), part 1 of article 209 (banditry), paragraphs “a”, “g”, “h” and “i” of part 2 of article 105 (murder) and part 3 of article 222 (illegal circulation of firearms).
The court and investigators have found that, in mid-2008 in the city of Moscow Ilya Goryachev, Nikita Tikhonov and other persons, keeping radical nationalistic views, following the motives of ideological and national hatred and enmity set up the extremist community and a stable armed group and gave them the name of Militant Organization of Russian Nationalists (BORN). The aim of the community was com and national hatred and enmity mitting extremist crimes and attacks on citizens – committing murders motivated by ideological, encroachment on the lives of law enforcement agents to avenge for their legal activity and other crimes. Alexey Korshunov, Mikhail Volkov, Maxim Baklagin, Vyacheslav Isayev, Yuri Tikhomirov and other persons of radical extremist views took part in the gang and its crimes in different time from mid-2008 to March 2011. The gang committed tens of crimes, including the murder of judge of Moscow city court Eduard Chuvashov, Lawyer Stanislav Markelov, leaders of the so called anti-fascist movements Fyodor Filatov, Ilya Dzhaparidze and Ivan Khutorskoy, Thai boxing world champion Muslim Abdullayev, citizens Ruslan Khalilov, Soso Khachikyan, attempted murders of Ramazan Nurichuyev and police officer Gagik Benyaminyan. It was under Tikhonov’s leadership that the gang killed several antifascists, Including Ilya Dzhaparidze, as well as a citizen of Tajikistan and a member of Black Hawks group.
To maintain discipline in the gang, increase stamina and in general to provide battle training the leaders and members of the gang actively worked out, trained tactics or search and reconnaissance in urban conditions and in the forest, secrecy, to use cold and firearms, to make and use explosive devices. To ensure maximum efficiency in attacks the members of the gang scouted the areas around residences or whereabouts of the victims beforehand, made schemes indicating places of the chosen objects, thought out possibilities how to get in and get out freely in the houses of the victims.
The leaders and the members of the gang had explosive devices, grenades, different kinds and modifications of firearms, their main parts and ammunition. They provided new members with firearms and ammunition, if necessary Tikhonov and Korshunov redistributed ammunition among the gang members. The extremist organization and the gang were well organized and highly stable reflected in their constant composition, close connection between the members based on the commitment to radical nationalistic views, ideological and national intolerance, hatred and enmity.
During the investigation Tikhonov entered a cooperation deal, gave detailed evidence of the crimes, therefore, the case against him has been severed to form a separate proceeding.
The court has sentenced Tikhonov to 18 years in prison.
At present the investigation against another organizer of BORN Ilya Goryachev and other persons involved in the said crimes is ongoing. In addition, a court is hearing a criminal case against four more members of the gang.
Head of Media Relations V.I. Markin
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