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Investigators Finish Probe Into Kidnapping of Kaspersky's Son

Authorities have wrapped up an investigation into the high-profile kidnapping of software tycoon Eugene Kaspersky's son.

Vladimir Markin, official spokesman for the Investigative Committee, said in a statement on the committee's website Monday that investigators had gathered enough evidence to hand over the case to prosecutors.

Nikolai Savelyev, his son Nikolai Savelyev Jr., Sergei Gromov and Oleg Mayukov are accused of kidnapping Ivan Kaspersky, who was 20 at the time, near the Strogino metro station in April 2011 and demanding a ransom of 3 million euros ($3.8 million) for his safe return.

If convicted, the four suspects face prison sentences of up to 15 years.

According to investigators, the suspects first decided to kidnap Kaspersky after seeing a TV show about his father, co-founder of bestselling anti-virus software Kaspersky Lab.

The four men then started spying on Kaspersky in March 2011, investigators said, and abducted their target on April 19, 2011, in northwest Moscow. The younger Kaspersky was held for five days outside Sergiyev Posad before law enforcement officials tracked him down.

In August, a former special services officer was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in jail after confessing to co-organizing the kidnapping and agreeing on a plea bargain with prosecutors.

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