"Edinaya Rossiya" Party promises to expel its members accused of pedophilia

A question on expulsion of former members of the Astrakhan Regional Duma from the "Edinaya Rossiya" (United Russia) Party, involved as defendants in a case on rape and corruption of minors, will be resolved at a next meeting, reports the "Edinaya Rossiya" Party.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in late December 2018, it became known that 54-year-old and 56-year-old residents of Astrakhan were charged with rapes and depraved acts against children and adolescents. According to a source from the law enforcement bodies, the defendants are former members of the Astrakhan Regional Duma. Meanwhile, at the time of the crimes, they did not occupy any positions at the Regional Duma.

According to investigators, in 2016-2018, a 54-year-old man rented an apartment in the Leninsky District of Astrakhan to invite children there. He "committed depraved acts against the children and engaged them in sexual intercourse" and gave them money for that. The man also invited his 56-year-old friend, who "committed depraved acts against the victims and engaged them in sexual intercourse," the investigators report. According to them, 10 children and teenagers of 8-17 years old suffered from the defendants' actions.

The former members of the Astrakhan Regional Duma "are suspected of committing flagrant crimes against children," reported Irina Rodnenko, First Deputy Secretary of the Astrakhan branch of the "Edinaya Rossiya" Party, the head of the Party's faction in the Astrakhan Regional Duma, as quoted by the RIA "Novosti" on December 2.

At the next meeting of the council for the Astrakhan regional branch of the "Edinaya Rossiya" Party, the suspects will be expelled from the Party, Irina Rodnenko reports.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 3, 2019 at 09:02 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.