A court has recognized the evidence gathered by Moscow Main Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee as sufficient to bring in a verdict to Dmitry Belkin and Oleg Pronin. Depending on the role of each the two men are charged with crimes under part 1 of article 210 of the RF Penal Code (organization of a criminal society), part 1 of article 209 of the RF Penal Code (banditry), paragraphs “a”, “c”, “h” and “m” of article 102 of the RSFSR Penal Code (aggravated homicide), paragraphs “a”, “h” and “j” of part 2 of article 105 of the RF Penal Code (murder of two or more people), part 3 of article 30, paragraphs “a”, “h” and “j” of part 2 of article 105 of the RF Penal Code (attempted murder), article 295 of the RF Penal Code (attempt on the life of a person administering justice or carrying out a preliminary investigation).
The court and investigators have found out that, Belkin, being a leader of the Orekhovskiye gang in the period between August 1995 and October 1998 committed in Moscow and Moscow Region murders of more than 20 people and several attempted murders. One of the most conspicuous crimes committed by Belkin and Pronin was the 1998 murder of senior investigator of the prosecutor’s office Yuri Kerez, who investigated the case opened over organization of the gang and extortion of money from businessmen.
Belkin was detained by law enforcement officials of Spain in 2011. By that time he had been wanted for 10 years. During the investigation neither Belkin nor Pronin admitted their guilt, but during careful inquest the investigators proved that both of them had been involved in the crimes, which is confirmed by statements of witnesses, expert examinations and other evidence.
Today based on the verdict of the jury, the court has passed a sentence upon Belkin and Pronin. Dmitry Belkin got a life sentence to be served in a special-security penal colony. Oleg Pronin was sentenced to 24 years in prison to be served in a maximum-security colony.
Earlier Oleg Pronin was sentenced to 17 years in prison for membership in the gang and committing very serious crimes while being its member.
Head of Media Relations V.I. Markin
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