All news

Abductors of Ivan Kaspersky, son of a well-known anti-virus software designer, to go on trial

Earlier one of the abductors had served 4.5 years in a maximum regime penitentiary

MOSCOW, November 13 (Itar-Tass) — The Investigative Committee /SK/ has finished the probe into the criminal case over the abduction of Ivan Kaspersky, son of a well-known anti-virus software designer.

"Nikolai Savelyev, his son Nikolai, Sergei Gromov and Oleg Mayukov are accused of extortion, committed by a group in collusion using violence, with the view of coming in possession of property in especially large amount," SK spokesman Vladimir Markin told Itar-Tass.

The suspects made their plans after watching a TV program about the father of the injured party, head of the Kaspersky Lab company, as they assumed he had much money, Markin said.

"The kidnapping plans were made not later than March 2011, and the group intended to demand a 3-million-euro ransom.

"After analyzing available information, they chose the neighborhood near the Strogino subway as the best place for abduction. They kidnapped the young man on April 19, 2011 at approximately 08:30, Moscow time. They overpowered Ivan Kaspersky, forced him into their car, blindfolded and handcuffed him, whereupon they brought him to a gardening society near the town of Sergiyev Posad, Moscow region, where he was kept until police set him free on April 24.

All the suspects are unemployed. Two of them have criminal records. Sergei Gromov, who was detained when he was guarding Ivan Kaspersky, 20, in the Moscow region, had three convictions for battery, while head of the Savelyev family - Nikolai - had a conviction for fraud in the 1970s. Alexei Ustimchuk had served 4.5 years in a maximum regime penitentiary.

In the course of a special operation, police detained Nikolai Savelyev, 61, a pensioner, his wife Lyudmila, their son Nikolai, 30, and his two friends Alexei Ustimchuk and Sergei Gromov. The Savelyevs and Ustimchuk were detained at a road police post when they were on their way to Moscow to meet with the parents of the kidnapped young man. They had a data medium on them as proof that Ivan Kaspersky had not been hurt.

On April 25, the Moscow Presnya district court sanctioned the suspects' arrest.

The SK added that the version that the kidnapping had been arranged by a Eugine Kaspersky rival had not been substantiated.

The criminal case was sent to prosecutors for endorsing the indictment and passing it to the court.