Moscow police have detained a group of suspected pedophiles believed to have been accompanying children to holiday camps in Russia and abroad and then sexually abusing them.
Investigators say the suspects set up companies specializing in vacations for children between the ages of 10 and 16 and then accompanied the kids on trips in order to sexually abuse them, according to a statement on the Interior Ministry's website.
The trips were made to various regions throughout Russia, as well as to some overseas destinations.
Four men were detained, and police already have testimony against three of them, the statement said.
The number of victims was not disclosed. If found guilty of sexually abusing minors, the men face up to 20 years in prison.
In a separate case Thursday, a trainer from an athletic school in the northern city of Murmansk was sentenced to 13 years in prison for molesting his students.
A statement on the Murmansk regional prosecutor's website said the man, Oleg Svidovich, was found to have abused his students from 2009 to 2011 during trips to sports competitions.
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.
