Investigators are considering dozens of possible suspects in the violent slayings a security officer's school-age children in rural Dagestan, with Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev confident that the crime will be solved, Interfax reported.
More than 40 suspects are being questioned, and more than 10 have been detained in connection with the killings, which took in the village of Belidzhi, near the border with Azerbaijan, Investigative Committee spokespeople said.
Speaking at a meeting with law enforcement officials, Kolokolstev offered sympathies to the officer and his family and said he was sure investigators would crack the case.
Returning home Monday evening, the officer and his wife discovered their two sons, whose ages have been variously reported as 11- and 12-years old and 11- and 9-years old, dead with multiple cuts and stab wounds, Interfax reported late Monday.
Also, a box containing valuables and 300,000 rubles ($10,000) was missing, leading investigators to suspect that the boys were victims of an armed attack on their house. A criminal case into charges of murder and violent robbery has been opened.
The officer works for a division of the Interior Ministry that guards apartments and other forms of property, much like a private security firm does.
Related articles:
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.
