Support The Moscow Times!

Russian Teenager Says He Set Fire to Family Home, Killing 5

A Russian teenager has confessed to setting fire to a house with his family inside — an attack that killed five people, investigators said.

The 17-year-old in the village of Shirokaya in the Zabaikalsky region is believed to have committed the alleged arson in response to a quarrel with his uncle, which took place while the two had been drinking, the local Investigative Committee branch said in a statement Sunday.

Firefighters, after extinguishing the flames, have found the bodies of five people inside — three women and two men, investigators said.

The teenager has told investigators that at the time of the alleged arson, there were five people in the house — the suspect's mother, grandmother and uncle, and two of their friends, a man and a woman, the Investigative Committee said.

A criminal case has been opened on charges of the murder of two or more people, the statement said.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

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.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more