In the center of Moscow, a dangerous plan unfolded as a prominent Italian businessman, Stefano Guidotti, was forcibly placed into a BMW by three men and transported to Bryansk. The incident, reported by the Telegram channel Mash, reveals an intended payoff that reached a total of 25 million rubles. The wide scope of the operation points to a calculated criminal endeavor designed to extract substantial money from a high-profile figure connected to European industry. The sequence of events suggests meticulous planning, with the attackers aiming to secure a life-changing ransom rather than simply demonstrate force.
According to Mash, the person funding the crime may have been linked to business rivals of the head of the Russian office of SIAD Rus, a company associated with technical gases. Before the kidnapping, the attackers allegedly received an advance of 800 thousand rubles. The remaining amount was to be disbursed depending on the outcome of the crime, creating an air of commercial calculations intersecting with criminal intent. While the exact future use of the captive remains unclear, investigators are treating the case as a high-stakes abduction tied to corporate intrigue and potential market maneuvering among rival factions.
Guidotti sustained injuries during the struggle, including bruises, abrasions, and fractures to three ribs. The assault not only endangered a life but also highlighted the physical peril faced by the victim in the course of the operation, underscoring the severity of the situation for all involved. The medical and security implications of the injuries have been central to the ongoing response by authorities, who are coordinating with international partners to track the perpetrators and secure the safe return of the captive.
Earlier that morning, another related event occurred when a car was stolen in front of its owner in the Moscow region and features in the footage released by investigators. The sequence of incidents—car theft, the kidnapping, and the subsequent recording—collectively paints a picture of a coordinated assault aimed at creating fear, sending a message to competitors, and exerting leverage through criminal means. The public release of the kidnapping video by the Investigation Committee adds a tangible element to the case, offering insight into the operation’s operational details and the suspects’ behavior. This material has become a focal point for public and media scrutiny as the authorities pursue the suspects and assess potential links to broader criminal networks involved in corporate conflicts around Europe and Russia.