A group of hunters discovered the crash site of a Robinson R-44 helicopter that disappeared in the Tver region last week with a controversial businessman on board.
Investigators and rescue workers were dispatched to the Moscow region's Solnechnogorsky district, where the crash site was found, while the Investigative Committee began a preliminary inquiry into the incident, Interfax reported Thursday.
One of three bodies discovered nearby belonged to 35-year-old Fyodor Tsarev, a controversial businessman also known as the "peat tsar" who was under investigation for illegal logging and excavating peat and sand in the Moscow region.
Tsarev, who apparently piloted the unregistered helicopter during its last flight on Saturday, was known for his reckless behavior and disregard for flight-safety regulations, according to local police.
The two other passengers on board were Oleg Skopintsev, 49, and Vasily Petrov, son of Yury Petrov, a United Russia lawmaker and former head of the Federal Property Management Agency, the report said.
Six hundred and twenty people and 134 pieces of heavy equipment, including two helicopters, took part in the five-day search operation, RIA-Novosti reported.
(MT)
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.
