The Interior Ministry’s press service reported the detention of five people suspected of crimes committed at the turn of the century.
According to the ministry, in September 1998 in Vitsebsk, an attack on the office of a private company resulted in the theft of expensive property and documentation. The attackers also beat a security guard. For several months, they blackmailed the business owner by threatening to destroy the company’s documents and demanded a ransom. After receiving it, the criminals did not return the documents. They then began threatening the victim with violence while demanding another payment. After being refused, the attackers detonated an explosive device on the porch of the woman’s house. Later, they attacked her office again, fatally shooting a security guard.
“In November 2000, the suspects carried out another armed robbery at the office of another private company. Wearing masks and carrying firearms, they beat the director and staff and stole cash equivalent to the price of an apartment in the regional centre”, the Interior Ministry cited another episode.
At the time, the criminals left no traces at the crime scenes, and it was not possible to identify them. Twenty-five years later, investigators managed to track down the suspects. With support from the Almaz special unit, all five repeat offenders were detained.
Investigators have opened criminal cases. Other episodes of the suspects’ alleged criminal activity are being established.
