Now wants to the front: the Russian police colonel confessed to the murder of a journalist 20 years later

"Right now, operational, investigators, search services are digging a forest strip in Beloorost. Fontanka's reporter, journalistic research agencies (Openur) Maxim Maximov disappeared on June 29, 2004. Maximov became famous for bribery materials in the authorities. His article on corruption at customs, apparently, became the last for him. The journalist gathered data, published the revelation - and soon disappeared.

And only on December 18, 2024, the police colonel, retired, Mikhail Smirnov confessed to his murder. Maksimov investigated the activities of a police officer who gave bribes to customs, seized cars, allegedly brought in violations, while Smirnov himself served in the anti -corruption department.

Confessing to the murder, he stated that "I was angry with me, in connection with which I, while in my office, made a decision on the murder of journalist Maximov ML I thought about it a few days, thought about the plan and way Murder and to whom I can seek help in concealing this crime. " It is reported that three more police officers were helped.

The journalist was invited to the meeting, Smirnov strangled him in the basement, immersed his body into the trunk and buried with the divisors in the viburnum. Journalists also point out that in 2006 the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation arrested Smirnov with one of the accomplices. They were thrown away systematic tossing bribes to officials and the same police. In 2007, the jury was justified. And Smirnov again began to conduct anti -corruption cases.

He was suspected of organizing several explosions and two other killings. After his resignation in 2019, he worked as a security guard at a defense enterprise. After confessing to the murder, 60-year-old Smirnov stated that he wanted to go to war in Ukraine to "redeem guilt. " Under the current Russian legislation, investigative actions on the suspect who signed a voluntary contract and went to the war are terminated.