Criminalists of the Main Criminalistics Directorate and investigators of the Central Office of the Russia’s Investigative Committee sent to Tver on the order of the Investigative Committee Chairman have joined the investigation in the murder of deputy of Tver Region legislative assembly Nikolai Popov.

His body was found today’s morning on the outskirts of the village of Spas, Torzhok District, Tver Region lying near a Suzuki car.

By now the investigators have already revealed a number of circumstances of the crime. The shooter was sitting at the back of the car. The investigators believe that the shooter and the victim knew each other. The chairman of the Mir collective farm was shot from a smooth-bore sawn-off rifle. According to a preliminary conclusion of a medical forensic expert, the wounded deputy managed to get out of the car, but the shooter hit at least four times on his head with a butt of a gun.

Today the investigators have questioned over three hundred people from among the victim’s acquaintances and relations, including deputies of the Tver Region legislative assembly. The statements, and analyses of the preliminary investigative operations give the reason to think that the propriety version is that the shooter might have been hired by senior officials of the collective fart, where Popov maintained tough manpower policy.

The investigators examined the crime scene and found and seized a lot of traces and objects. Among others, they managed to seize biological traces in the car, where the shooting had taken place. A DNA test will help to identify the shooter.

The investigation is ongoing, measures are being taken to identify and detain the ones involved in the murder as fast as possible.

Head of Media Relations                                                                                                                                V.I. Markin