All news

SK completing Vologda prison break probe

Charges have been brought against three defendants – Alexei Shestakov, 33, the fugitive, Alexander Rusakov,36, and Tatyana Vazhalina, 35

MOSCOW, September 25 (Itar-Tass) — The Investigation Committee /SK/ is completing the probe into the criminal case over an escape from a Vologda region prison by helicopter.

"Charges have been brought against three defendants – Alexei Shestakov, 33, the fugitive, Alexander Rusakov,36, and Tatyana Vazhalina, 35," SK spokesman Vladimir Markin told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

Early in the morning of March 22, a helicopter of the Vologda air transport company, privately hired by Shestakov through an intermediary – arrived at the Irma recreation base in the Sheksna district of the Vologda region where it collected two persons. When the helicopter was airborne, passengers Tatyana Vazhalina and Alexander Rusakov forced the pilot to fly towards the town of Sheksna, and then descend over the prison premises, where convict Alexei Shestakov caught hold of the rope thrown from the helicopter and escaped.

The helicopter flew to Vologda and landed near the Okruzhnoye /Circular/ Highway. The passengers escaped. On the same day, police stopped a car carrying Shestakov at the entrance to the town of Gryazovets, but were unable to detain him as he was threatening them with grenades and a pistol. The weapons turned out to be dummies. Shestakov tried to flee, but abandoned his car after driving several dozen meters. He attempted to take a new car by threatening the driver with an air pistol. However, police apprehended him soon after the attempted carjacking.

Shestakov was charged with masterminding the capture of an aircraft and hijacking, prison break, car theft, threat to use violence on government representative and attempted theft of car.

Vazhalina and Rusakov are accused of seizing and hijacking aircraft and abetting prison break. Also, Rusakov is accused of illegal acquisition of psychedelic substance /almost 1.5 grams of amphetamine/ which investigators said he had purchased in Petersburg an had on him until his arrest.

"The investigators have carried out the necessary investigative and procedural actions aimed at completing preliminary investigation into the criminal case. The accused are to read the case materials before the endorsement of the indictment," Markin said.