According to the Shot Telegram channel, Vyacheslav Polyakov, known as Malmygin, was detained in St. Petersburg on suspicion of murdering an 18-year-old roommate. Reports place the arrest near a residence on 2nd Predportovy Passage around 9:00 Moscow time the previous day. The Mash Telegram channel later stated that Polyakov has already been taken into custody and that criminal cases were opened against him under three articles: murder, violation of private life, and involvement in prostitution. Telegram channel 112 noted that Polyakov had been on the federal wanted list since July 5, the day Sofia Krasilnikova was found dead in an apartment outside Moscow. The channel also recounts that Malmygin had built a reputation as a defender against prostitution. He allegedly met women online, recorded sexual videos, and then used threats and blackmail to coerce actions. Polyakov faced prior charges for extortion, causing bodily harm, and involvement in prostitution.
Plans for Polyakov to move from St. Petersburg to Moscow were mentioned in the material. There is also mention of a prior relationship with musician Stas Baretsky. Baretsky’s lawyer told socialbites.ca that the artist was “examining the case as a witness” and not implicated in the crime. The lawyer’s statement, given on October 28, 2022 at the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee in St. Petersburg, asserted that Baretsky was not involved and that he continues living his life as usual.
Murder in Balashikha
The body of the deceased young woman was found in Balashikha on July 5. Shot reports indicate that Sofia Krasilnikova lived with Polyakov in her mother’s apartment, though she also maintained separate residence from Polyakov at times. The mother had urged the couple to move out and secure employment for the girl. The two had ongoing online communications that escalated to blocking the girl’s mother and silencing communications, prompting the mother to inspect the apartment herself three days after those events to discover the body.
The mother had connected with Polyakov at the end of 2021 in St. Petersburg, where the two had met when she was still a minor. It is alleged Polyakov later described a fatal joke to her, suggesting an intent to frighten her.
Investigators claim that Polyakov aimed to push Krasilnikova toward prostitution through manipulation and pressure. They note that Polyakov established an online presence that facilitated contacting clients. Forensic results indicated the body had lain in the apartment for about three days and showed multiple stab wounds. Security footage reportedly captured the couple entering the building at 10:20 a.m. on July 2, with Polyakov leaving the premises alone 12 minutes later. He was subsequently placed on a federal wanted list.
Witness – Baretsky
On July 7, Stas Baretsky spoke with socialbites.ca and expressed disbelief in Polyakov’s guilt. He described Polyakov as a good person and offered to assist with legal representation. Baretsky emphasized that he was not present for the alleged murder and did not wish to speculate publicly. He maintained ongoing contact with Polyakov and indicated his willingness to help in any way possible.
On October 28, Komsomolskaya Pravda reported a search of Baretsky’s St. Petersburg apartment. Investigators arrived in Lomonosov and the Petrodvorets district, where his mother resides. The publication noted that Baretsky himself was not found at the location. The musician’s legal counsel, Roman Kandaurov, stated that his client could be questioned as a witness and that the investigation appeared to be handled by the Investigative Committee of St. Petersburg. Kandaurov added that the search did not necessarily connect Baretsky to the Moscow region case. He described the search as possibly related to potential witness status and insisted there was no confirmation of wrongdoing.
The artist described the events of that morning when officers arrived at his mother’s apartment at 4 a.m. He recounted that his mother, who has limited hearing, did not answer initially. He claimed the door was broken in with a sledgehammer and a grinder, and that the search seemed to proceed without a warrant.