Latest news with #AlexanderPichushkin
Memri
4 days ago
- Politics
- Memri
Russian Security Forces Target Neo-Nazis In Mass Arrests In 81 Regions Across The Nation
In mid-May 2025, Russian security services carried out large-scale operations aimed at preventing the further spread of an "ideology of violence, mass murder, and suicide" among minors. The operation covered 81 regions (of 89 total) in the country. According to news reports, preventive measures have been taken against 305 minors who "fell under the influence of foreign moderators promoting destructive ideology." YOU MUST BE SUBSCRIBED TO THE MEMRI DOMESTIC TERRORISM THREAT MONITOR (DTTM) TO READ THE FULL REPORT. GOVERNMENT AND MEDIA CAN REQUEST A COPY BY WRITING TO DTTMSUBS@ WITH THE REPORT TITLE IN THE SUBJECT LINE. PLEASE INCLUDE FULL ORGANIZATIONAL DETAILS AND AN OFFICIAL EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR REQUEST. NOTE: WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE A COPY ONLY TO MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT, MEDIA, AND ACADEMIA, AND TO SUBSCRIBERS; IF YOU DO NOT MEET THESE CRITERIA PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST. On May 15, 2025, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) disclosed it had arrested six people involved in the preparation of attacks on schools in Moscow and Tyumen. The FSB also detained 57 administrators of Telegram channels and chatrooms which featured terrorist and neo-Nazi ideology. The investigative activities were carried out by the FSB together with the officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Investigative Committee, and troops from the National Guard of Russia. The operation went beyond the 81 Russian regions, but extended into the occupied regions of Ukraine. The screenshot of a video clip by a Russian state-owned media outlet showing weapons found during searches of the homes of the detainees. According to the FSB release, components for making homemade explosive devices, weapons, plans of armed attacks, symbols, and propaganda materials of neo-Nazi and terrorist organizations were confiscated from the detainees' homes. Video of one of the arrests (apparently of the detainees suspected of preparing terrorist attacks) shows smoothbore guns, sawed-off shotguns, revolvers and cartridges for them, knives, batons, various flags, books about the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Colorado, and about Alexander Pichushkin, an infamous Russian serial killer, as well as various items bearing neo-Nazi and occult symbols. The authorities didn't report what Telegram channels were blocked. However, the video of the arrests shows that apparently one of the blocked channels was dedicated to Brenton Tarrant, who attacked two mosques in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, which resulted in the deaths of 51 people. Russia's main newspaper, Rossiskaya Gazeta, (RG) reported that in total, the raids resulted in preventive measures against 305 minors, who, according to the paper, "fell under the influence of foreign moderators promoting destructive ideology." Additionally, according to the media, while searching the detainees' phones, the FSB officers found correspondence with "Ukrainian curators," and "instructions on sabotage and terrorist attacks, as well as on the manufacturing and use of means of terror." The Legal Process It seems that the charges have been already brought against four teenagers in Mari El Republic, one in Udmurtia Republic, and one in the city of Rostov-on-Don. In the latter case, a minor made homemade explosives, which he stored in his apartment. The case of the four teenagers arrested in Mari El seems to be different in nature. According to the RG, the accomplices were physically attacking foreigners on the street. Two of those arrested, who are minors, had joined an unnamed terrorist organization after which, "on the instructions of a curator from Ukraine," for a material reward of 32,000 rubles (about $400), they set a car on fire using "patriotic symbols" in the village of Ryabinka (Mari El). A screenshot of a video clip by a Russia's state-owned media outlet shows an arsenal belonging to one of those arrested during the police raids. It's not known whether the cases of all those arrested are related to each other. Only the four minors detained in Mari El were organized in a group. On May 19, 2025, a Telegram news channel reported on a case from the Russian city of Nefteyugansk. In this case, a 16-year-old ninth grader received a call from a man who introduced himself as the head teacher of his school and was able to obtain personal information from the teen. A few hours later, the teen received a call allegedly from Rosfinmonitoring, which informed him that someone had gained access to his family's bank accounts and that a criminal case would be initiated against his family for transferring money to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The scammers first forced the student to transfer 200,000 rubles (about $2,500) to them, and then convinced him to search the city for cars with St. George ribbons and stickers in honour of Victory Day, and to set them on fire. In a few hours, the teenager managed to set four cars on fire. In Russia, it is quite common for fraudsters to force victims to set fire to administrative buildings, cars, military registration centers, or enlistment offices. Usually, the scammers' victims in such cases are elderly people or teenagers. For example, one newspaper reported another case. On December 27, 2024, a 70-year-old woman from Kursk, after a call from scammers claiming to be representatives of the special services, set fire to the "MFTs" premises on Shchepkina Street using a flammable liquid. A case was launched against the woman under Article 205, "Terrorism," of the Russian Criminal Code. A maximum sentence is up to 20 years in prison. Neo-Nazi groups support members who commit direct actions: For example, assaults, dissemination of National Socialist propaganda and arsons. One group unites autonomous neo-Nazi gangs and financially supports "comrades, who have already proven themselves." The group adds, however, that this is not a payment, but "support for further similar activities." However, neither this group, nor another large grouping of autonomous neo-Nazis, reported on the arrests of their members in the raids. In one chat room, users were surprised by the arrests and assume that those arrested "simply didn't know the basics of anonymity and conspiracy." Previous Raids And Arrests A month before the security services' raids, in April, Moscow's Tagansky Court fined Telegram seven 7 million rubles for refusing to remove channels calling for terrorist attacks and protest rallies. In 2024, the FSB reported raids in 78 regions and the detention of "pro-Ukrainian radicals" who were prompting others to commit criminal activities via social networks. In 2024, the authorities claimed that the arrested were found to have chats on Internet, in particular on the Discord messenger, with Ukrainian curators, "containing instructions on how to conduct sabotage and terrorist activities, the production and use of terrorist weapons, and plans for preparing armed attacks." Also in 2024, before the security services operations, Moscow's Tagansky Court had fined Discord 3.5 million rubles for failure to remove 947 illegal materials, which included "child pornography, calls for extremism, suicide, LGBT propaganda, and pro-drug[-addiction] content."
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
Russia's Notorious 'Chessboard Killer' Has a Staggering Number of Victims. He Says There Are More
1974–present Russian serial killer Alexander Pichushkin, who is serving life in prison for killing 48 people, is poised to confess to additional murders. Pichushkin, also known as 'The Chessboard Killer,' targeted his victims, mostly the elderly and destitute, in Moscow's Bittevsky Park for more than a decade before his arrest in 2007. He earned his nickname after police discovered a chessboard in his apartment on which he had recorded his killings. In a statement on April 5, Russia's penal service revealed that Pichushkin, now 50, is ready to confess to 11 more murders. During his trial, he claimed to have killed as many as 63 people but was only charged for 48 counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder. If convicted, Pichushkin, who is already considered Russia's second most prolific serial killer, would be held responsible for killing a total of 59 people. He is currently being held at Polar Owl prison, a remote penal colony located north of Russia's Arctic Circle. Russian serial killer Alexander Pichushkin, nicknamed 'The Chessboard Killer,' is serving life in prison for murdering 48 people. He was caught in Moscow in 2007 after killing a coworker and has maintained he killed as many as 63 people. Following his arrest the police discovered a chessboard with dates on all but two of the squares, apparently connected to the murders he committed. Due to the gruesomeness and number of his murders, Russians considered reinstating the death penalty. However, Pichushkin has instead been jailed since his 2007 conviction, which also included three counts of attempted murder. FULL NAME: Alexander Yuryevich PichushkinBORN: April 9, 1974BIRTHPLACE: Mytishchi, RussiaASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aries Alexander Yuryevich Pichushkin was born on April 9, 1974, in Mytishchi, Russia, a city on the outskirts of Moscow. Little is known of Pichushkin's early years. He had some type of head injury around the age of 4 and spent time in an institute for the disabled as a child. He appeared to be in competition with one of Russia's most well-known serial killers, Andrei Chikatilo, who was convicted of 52 murders in 1992. Around the time of Chikatilo's trial in 1992, Pichushkin committed his first murder. He was just a teenager when he pushed a boy out of a window, according to Pichushkin's televised confession. While the police did question him in the case, it was later declared a suicide. 'This first murder, it's like first love, it's unforgettable,' he later said. Pichushkin's murderous impulses lay dormant for years until he began killing people in Moscow's Bittsevsky Park in the early 2000s. Often targeting the elderly or the destitute, he lured his victims to the park to reportedly drink with him at his dead dog's grave. There appears to be some kernel of truth to this story. After the loss of his grandfather, with whom he shared a close bond, Pichushkin became depressed. He got a dog that he often walked in the park. It is unknown whether the dog is actually buried there, however. Pichushkin waited until his intended victim was intoxicated and then he hit him or her repeatedly with a blunt instrument, like a hammer or a piece of pipe. To conceal the bodies, he often threw his victims into a sewer pit. Some of them were still alive at the time and ended up drowning. As the killings progressed, Pichushkin's attacks grew even more savage. He left a broken vodka bottle sticking out of some victims' skulls and seemed to care less about disposing of the bodies, just leaving them out in the open to be discovered. By 2003, Moscow residents, especially people who lived near the park, feared that there was a serial killer on the loose. Newspapers nicknamed Pichushkin the 'Bittsevsky Maniac' and 'The Bittsa Beast.' Authorities finally caught up with Pichushkin in June 2006 after he killed a woman he worked with at a supermarket. She had left a note for her son to tell him that she was taking a walk with Pichushkin. While he was aware of the risks involved in killing his coworker, he still murdered her. After his arrest, the police discovered a chessboard with dates on 61 or 62 of its 64 squares. Pichushkin was a fan of the game and had been trying to kill as many people as there were squares on the board. Despite the date references, the police were only able to charge Pichushkin with 48 counts of murder and 3 counts of attempted murder (three of his victims survived). Pichushkin's confession was aired on Russian television. In it, he discussed at length his need to kill. 'For me, a life without murder is like a life without food for you,' Pichushkin reportedly said. Showing no remorse, he later argued that he should be charged with more murders, keeping with his claim of killing 61 or 63 people (his story varied). 'I thought it would be unfair to forget about the other 11 people,' Pichushkin reportedly commented during his 2007 trial. Pichushkin was convicted in October 2007. The jury deliberated for only three hours before finding him guilty of all 51 counts. Shortly after the trial, Pichushkin was sentenced to life in prison. The hideous nature of his crimes has renewed interest in reinstituting Russia's death penalty, but that has yet to happen. In April 2025, Pichushkin revealed he wanted to confess to 11 additional murders. This first murder, it's like first love, it's unforgettable For me, a life without murder is like a life without food for you. Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! You Might Also Like Nicole Richie's Surprising Adoption Story The Story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Her Mother Queen Camilla's Life in Photos
Gulf Today
05-04-2025
- Gulf Today
Russia's 'chessboard killer' to confess 11 more murders
Alexander Pichushkin, a Russian serial killer jailed for life in 2007 for killing 48 people, has said he is ready to confess to 11 more murders, Russia's penal service said on Saturday. Pichushkin, now 50 years old, targeted his victims, often homeless people, alcoholics and the elderly, around Bitsevsky Park, a large green place in southern Moscow. His killings lasted from 1992 to 2006. He was nicknamed "the chessboard killer" by the Russian media because he told detectives in a confession that he had hoped to put a coin on every square of a 64-square chessboard for each of his victims. Pichushkin has been held at the Polar Owl prison, in Russia's remote Arctic north, since being sentenced. In a statement published on the Telegram messenger app on Saturday, Russia's penal service said that Pichushkin had told investigators he was ready to confess to 11 more murders of men and women. Pichushkin has long been suspected of additional murders to those for which he was convicted. He claimed during his trial to have killed 63 people, but prosecutors only charged him with 48 murders and three attempted murders. If convicted of the additional murders, it would make Pichushkin Russia's second most prolific serial killer on record, behind Mikhail Popkov, a former policeman convicted of 78 murders. Reuters
The Independent
05-04-2025
- The Independent
He's confessed to murdering 48. Now Russia's chessboard killer will admit to 11 more
Alexander Pichushkin is one of the world's most notorious serial killers. The Russian was jailed for life in 2007 for killing 48 people. But now he has said he is ready to confess to 11 more murders, Russia 's penal service said on Saturday. Pichushkin, now 50 years old, targeted his victims, often homeless people, alcoholics and the elderly, around Bitsevsky Park, a large green place in southern Moscow. His killings lasted from 1992 to 2006. He was nicknamed "the chessboard killer" by the Russian media. This was because he told detectives in a confession that he had hoped to put a coin on every square of a 64-square chessboard for each of his victims. Pichushkin has been held at the Polar Owl prison, in Russia's remote Arctic north, since being sentenced. In a statement published on the Telegram messenger app on Saturday, Russia's penal service said that Pichushkin had told investigators he was ready to confess to 11 more murders of men and women. Pichushkin has long been suspected of additional murders to those for which he was convicted. He claimed during his trial to have killed 63 people, but prosecutors only charged him with 48 murders and three attempted murders. If convicted of the additional murders, it would make Pichushkin Russia's second most prolific serial killer on record, behind Mikhail Popkov, a former policeman convicted of 78 murders.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
Russia's 'chessboard killer' Alexander Pichushkin poised to confess to 11 more murders, officials say
A Russian serial killer jailed for life for killing 48 people has said he is ready to admit to 11 more murders, according to the country's prison service. Alexander Pichushkin, now 50 years old, targeted his victims - many of them homeless, alcoholics or elderly - around Bitsevsky Park in Moscow. His killing spree lasted from 1992 to 2006, and he was then tried and jailed in 2007. Russian media nicknamed him the "chessboard killer" because he told detectives he had planned to place a coin on every square of a 64-square chessboard for each of his victims. The serial killer has been detained in a remote prison in Russia's Arctic, the Polar Owl prison, since being sentenced. He has long been suspected of killing more people than the 48 for whose murders he has already been convicted. Now he has told investigators he is prepared to confess to 11 further killings of men and women, Russia's prison system said in a statement on the Telegram messenger app on Saturday. During his previous trial, he claimed to have killed 63 people, but he was only charged with 48 murders and three attempted murders. Should he be convicted of the 11 additional murders, he would become Russia's second most prolific serial killer on record. Mikhail Popkov, a former policeman, was convicted of 78 murders.
