Anatoly Molchan, 61, has been sentenced to 12 years in a strict-regime penal colony for planting a homemade bomb under an acquaintance's car in Moscow Region.
The Moscow Region Prosecutor's Office confirmed the conviction following a trial over an attempted murder stemming from a long-running dispute between the two men over land.
Prosecutors told news outlet Lenta.ru that Molchan was found guilty of attempting to kill multiple people, including young children, using an explosive device in a manner that created a broad danger to the public.
According to evidence established by the court, Molchan manufactured an improvised explosive device himself after becoming involved in a protracted disagreement regarding land with his acquaintance.
During the night of February 10, Molchan slipped beneath the target's vehicle and fixed the homemade bomb onto the underside of the automobile.
The following morning, the vehicle owner loaded his two young daughters into the car to transport them to their local kindergarten, unaware of the explosive attached below.
The bomb failed to detonate during the morning drive, allowing the father and his young children to reach the kindergarten safely.
The device remained attached to the chassis throughout the day and detonated later that evening as the car was crossing a set of railway tracks in Fryazino.
The blast sent shrapnel ripping through the automobile, inflicting multiple shrapnel wounds on the driver.
Land dispute led to railway explosion
Fryazino, where the evening blast occurred, is a town located in Moscow Region northeast of Moscow. Moscow Region is the federal subject that surrounds the Russian capital.
Following the railway crossing explosion, law enforcement authorities opened a criminal investigation that led officers to conduct searches across several properties belonging to Molchan.
During searches of Molchan's residence, garage, and personal vehicles, law enforcement officers recovered an array of illegal items used in committing the offense.
Investigative teams discovered ammunition of various calibers, fake vehicle registration plates, disguise equipment, and additional items used to carry out the crime.
Legal charges and penal colony sentence
The court found Molchan guilty under five separate articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which serves as the primary legal statute governing criminal prosecutions in Russia.
His convictions included attempted murder of two or more persons, including minors, carried out in a generally dangerous manner under Articles 30 and 105 of the code.
Molchan was also convicted under Article 167 for intentional property damage by explosion, Article 222.1 for illegal storage and carrying of explosive devices, Article 223.1 for illegal manufacture of explosives, and Article 222 for illegal acquisition, storage, and transport of ammunition.
The court sentenced Molchan to serve 12 years of deprivation of liberty in a strict-regime penal colony for the attack.
Strict-regime penal colonies in the Russian correctional system are high-security facilities designated for convicts serving sentences for grave criminal offenses.
