The Moscow Region investigating bodies of the Russia’s Investigative Committee have opened two criminal cases over a crime under part 2 of article 238 of the RF Penal Code and part 3 of article 238 (manufacture, storage, selling of unsafe goods and products involving death of two of more people).
According to investigators, in 7 November 2015, four local residents bought alcohol labeled Lezginka and Kizlyar from a warehouse in Domodedovo precinct. After drinking it, all four of them were taken to a hospital and diagnosed with adulterated alcohol poisoning, two of the men died later. Two bottles with alcohol were confiscated from the incident scene. At present, investigators are looking for the person who had sold the unsafe alcohol to the victims.
On 7 November 2015, in the village of Rastunovo, Domodedovo District, a local resident bought 5 bottles of alcohol labeled Bacardi and drank them at home in the company of four of his friends. Two of the men died of poisoning, one of whom was an officer of the Russian Ministry of the Interior, two more are still in intensive care.
In both cases, the adulterated alcohol contained methanol according to experts.
Two people who sold the adulterated alcohol were identified in short time. Their residences and a warehouse located in the city of Moscow have been searched. The investigators have confiscated from there at least a thousand bottles of alcohol labeled Lezginka, Kizlyar and Bacardi. The said alcohol will be processed for a chemical forensic examination. The investigators are going to find out if it was the same source of adulterated alcohol in both cases. At present the suspects are being interviewed.
This criminal investigation shows that adulterated alcohol business that flourished in our country in the 90’s and seemed to have disappeared completely, is still there. And not in some remote areas, but in the capital city. This is a very serious problem, no doubt, considering the outcome even the slightest dose of such a drink can have. Judging by the amount of confiscated alcohol, we can only guess how many human lives could be endangered. It is obvious that there are not only producers and sellers in it. This is why the Investigative Committee is going to find the selling points, all persons involved in the crime, and to give a legal assessment to the actions of officials charged with control over circulation and quality of alcohol.
Head of Media Relations V.I. Markin
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