Two former police officers kidnapped and murdered a well-known Austrian lawyer in what Russian law enforcement agencies believe could be a contract killing.
Erich Rebasso, 48, a Vienna-based business lawyer who was accused in 2007 of heading a pyramid scheme that allegedly cost organized crime bosses large sums, went missing in the Austrian capital in late July, Kommersant reported Saturday.
Rebasso's family was later given a ransom demand for 435,000 euros ($535,000), but Austrian police unearthed the lawyer's body in a forest outside Vienna before the money was paid, the report said.
On Aug. 14, Russian police detained Alexander Molchanov and Pavel Vlasov, both in their 30s, in connection with the murder, while the pair were traveling on the Moscow Ring Road.
The pair, who confessed to killing Rebasso, said they killed him by accident while they were trying to abduct him. Police tracked them down after traces of the lawyer's blood were found in an Austrian rental car they had hired.
According to Kommersant, Molchanov and Vlasov were expelled from the Kirov city police department for heroin dealing and fraud, respectively, and resumed their criminal activity after serving prison sentences.
Molchanov and Vlasov will answer murder charges in Russia, as the country's legislation doesn't allow Russian citizens to be extradited. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
