A 35-year-old foreign national will stand trial in absentia in Russia's Leningrad Region over charges of sexually abusing and torturing children, local authorities said.
The regional directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia confirmed that prosecutors approved the indictment and forwarded the case to court, according to news outlet 78.ru.
Investigators allege that between 2016 and 2019, the suspect committed violent acts of a sexual nature targeting young girls. Law enforcement officials further accused the man of systematically beating and intimidating children, inflicting severe physical and mental pain on his victims.
Russian law enforcement agencies formally opened criminal cases under statutory articles covering violent acts of a sexual nature against minors and the torture of two or more individuals, including known minors. Following the formal filing of charges, the suspect fled the region and was placed on an international wanted list.
Investigation and legal proceedings
The Investigative Committee stated that investigators gathered sufficient evidence during the probe to proceed to trial despite the defendant remaining at large. Under Russian criminal procedure, a trial in absentia enables courts to examine forensic evidence, hear testimony, and render a binding verdict when an accused person evades justice abroad.
An international wanted notice enables law enforcement agencies across multiple countries to track down suspects who have crossed international borders. If convicted in absentia, the defendant will face immediate detention to serve any court-ordered sentence upon capture or extradition to Russia.
Regional enforcement and separate criminal report
Leningrad Region is a federal subject located in the Northwestern Federal District of Russia, encircling the federal city of Saint Petersburg. The Investigative Committee operates as Russia's premier law enforcement body responsible for investigating serious felonies, including violent crimes and abuse targeting minors.
In a separate report on regional crime, authorities in Moscow previously detained a man accused of breaking into a woman's apartment and committing violent actions against her. The victim immediately reported the attack to local police, leading to the rapid arrest of the suspect, who had a prior criminal conviction for similar offenses.
