Volgograd Region: businessmen and former policeman charged with illegal deprivation of freedom

The criminal case initiated against Vasily Styazhkin, the director of the factory of wall materials, and Andrei Knippel, the former deputy commander of the separate battalion of patrol-and-road service (PRS) at the UVD (Interior Department) for Kamyshin and Kamyshin District, has been forwarded to the court.

According to investigators, on May 15, 2011, Vladimir Budnikov, who was on his rest together with his wife and daughter in the hunting farm in the Kamyshin District fell victim to the defendants. After a conflict with them, they roped Budnikov to the car and dragged him along on the ground; then, they drowned him in the lake, forced to dig a grave for himself and shot into the space between the legs. They also broke his car and stole his cell phone. As a result, Budnikov received numerous injuries, including a broken jaw, broken ribs and brain concussion.

After the incident, the inter-district investigatory division of the Investigatory Department of the Investigatory Committee for the Volgograd Region opened a criminal case under several articles of the Criminal Code. The indictment was signed by Alexander Rudnev, First Deputy Public Regional Prosecutor, the website of the Volgograd Regional Prosecutor's Office reported on February 3.

Styazhkin and Knippel are accused of illegal deprivation of a human of his freedom, not related with his kidnapping, by a group of persons under prior conspiracy, with the use of violence dangerous for his life and health, with use of weapons. The indictment also includes a threat of murder, intentional damage to property and illegal occupancy of a car without the aim of hijacking. Besides, Styazhkin is blamed of robbery.

Knippel and Styazhkin were put under arrest; the former retired from his law enforcement post. The defendants refuse to admit their guilt, the IA "Vysota 102" reports.