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Oleg Kashin: 'Men who nearly killed me charged but not their paymaster' Oleg Kashin: 'Men who nearly killed me charged but not their paymaster'
(about 4 hours later)
A prominent Russian journalist has named thethree men he says nearly beat him to death in 2010, and said they had been charged.A prominent Russian journalist has named thethree men he says nearly beat him to death in 2010, and said they had been charged.
In an article on his personal website, Oleg Kashin said Danila Vesyolov and Mikhail Kavtaskin were charged in June with murder and with committing an “unfinished grievous crime” – allegations that carry up to a life sentence. In an article on his personal website, Oleg Kashin said Danila Vesyolov and Mikhail Kavtaskin were charged in June with attempted murder and with committing an “unfinished grievous crime” – allegations that carry up to a life sentence.
The attack they are accused of left Kashin in hospital with a broken jaw, fractured skull, broken leg and broken fingers, one of which later had to be amputated. None of his valuables were taken.The attack they are accused of left Kashin in hospital with a broken jaw, fractured skull, broken leg and broken fingers, one of which later had to be amputated. None of his valuables were taken.
The authorities are searching for a third suspect, Vyacheslav Borisov, who is hiding in Belarus, wrote Kashin, who says he has seen case materials.The authorities are searching for a third suspect, Vyacheslav Borisov, who is hiding in Belarus, wrote Kashin, who says he has seen case materials.
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Although Russia’s main investigating authority has declined to confirm or deny information on the case, Kashin’s lawyers and the former editor of the Kommersant newspaper where he worked at the time of the attack have said the news of the charges is true. Investigators previously said they had suspects in the case, the newspaper Kommersant reported.Although Russia’s main investigating authority has declined to confirm or deny information on the case, Kashin’s lawyers and the former editor of the Kommersant newspaper where he worked at the time of the attack have said the news of the charges is true. Investigators previously said they had suspects in the case, the newspaper Kommersant reported.
In security camera footage of the attack on 6 November 2010, a man with a bouquet of flowers stopped Kashin at the gate to his apartment complex in central Moscow and knocked him down. An alleged accomplice then beat the journalist more than 50 times with a steel rod.In security camera footage of the attack on 6 November 2010, a man with a bouquet of flowers stopped Kashin at the gate to his apartment complex in central Moscow and knocked him down. An alleged accomplice then beat the journalist more than 50 times with a steel rod.
The brutal assault was widely covered in Russia and eventually drew the attention of then-president Dmitry Medvedev, who said in 2011 he was taking the case under his personal control and would “tear off the head” of those responsible.The brutal assault was widely covered in Russia and eventually drew the attention of then-president Dmitry Medvedev, who said in 2011 he was taking the case under his personal control and would “tear off the head” of those responsible.
According to Kashin, although the men who allegedly carried out the crime had now been charged, no one has been accused of ordering the hit. In past cases, such as that of the murdered investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, the trigger men were convicted but no mastermind was ever brought to justice.According to Kashin, although the men who allegedly carried out the crime had now been charged, no one has been accused of ordering the hit. In past cases, such as that of the murdered investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, the trigger men were convicted but no mastermind was ever brought to justice.
Kashin claims the three suspects are employees of a factory in St Petersburg owned by Leninets, which is controlled by the family of the governor of Pskov province, Andrei Turchak. Kashin claimed the suspects told investigators that they had been paid 3.3m roubles (then about £60,000) to commit the crime.Kashin claims the three suspects are employees of a factory in St Petersburg owned by Leninets, which is controlled by the family of the governor of Pskov province, Andrei Turchak. Kashin claimed the suspects told investigators that they had been paid 3.3m roubles (then about £60,000) to commit the crime.
Turchak has declined to comment on news of the murder charges.Turchak has declined to comment on news of the murder charges.
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Whether anyone would be punished for ordering the attack is a “political decision” that would be made at the highest levels of the Kremlin, Kashin told TV Rain.Whether anyone would be punished for ordering the attack is a “political decision” that would be made at the highest levels of the Kremlin, Kashin told TV Rain.
One of Russia’s best-known journalists, Kashin made his name with acerbic coverage of both pro- and anti-Kremlin activists.One of Russia’s best-known journalists, Kashin made his name with acerbic coverage of both pro- and anti-Kremlin activists.
Kashin and others had originally suspected that members of a pro-Kremlin youth group, angered by his critical coverage, had carried out the attack in 2010, but on Monday the journalist said he was ready to personally apologise to their leader.Kashin and others had originally suspected that members of a pro-Kremlin youth group, angered by his critical coverage, had carried out the attack in 2010, but on Monday the journalist said he was ready to personally apologise to their leader.