In Tyumen, a verdict was delivered that brought a long-running and emotionally charged case to a close. Former police officer Vitaly Berezhnoy received a life sentence after being found guilty of raping and murdering an eight-year-old girl. The Moscow City Court affirmed that the sentence applies to all charged crimes, with the offender serving time in a special regime colony.
The court highlighted that the jury had already determined guilt without leniency. The proceedings were conducted behind closed doors to protect a minor’s personal data.
They were afraid they would be lynched
The case initially unfolded in Tyumen, but last year the Tyumen District Court discharged the jury for compromising the secrecy of the deliberation room. The presiding judge subsequently transferred the case to Moscow for trial.
Online discussions have suggested that the move to Moscow was motivated by fear of public backlash in Siberia. In a report, the Telegram channel Puree noted that Berezhnoy faced the Moscow proceedings in part due to concerns about mob pressure in his home region. According to the channel, Berezhnoy encountered the victim after returning home in an intoxicated state. The same report stated that after his arrest the accused admitted to storing the victim’s body in a refrigerator for several days before transporting it to the shore of Lake Obrichnoe. This account is attributed to the publication for context.
heart of matter
Investigators have described the events as occurring on June 30, 2021, when Berezhnoy encountered an unfamiliar girl on the first floor of a residential building on Sudostroiteley Street in Tyumen. The authorities say he enticed the child to enter an apartment in the same building where the killing occurred.
Following the incident, Berezhnoy reportedly packed the child’s body and concealed it within his residence. Throughout this period, volunteers aided in the search for the girl, and local officials announced rewards for information. By late August, the girl’s body was located in a secluded area near the lake shore, according to a report by TASS.
Berezhnoy has claimed he confessed under torture, a claim that has been denied. An inquiry into torture allegations did not commence, and defense lawyers have reported pressure and multiple violations, including limited access to evidence and investigation materials. One lawyer reportedly left Russia amid threats, according to coverage by Nash City.
“Was it taken wrong?”
The publication also shares perspectives from experts who have dealt with missing child cases in Tyumen since 1997. Among them is a senior adviser from the Investigative Committee who suggested Berezhnoy could be innocent of the murder, though this view has not been universally accepted.
Some experts have voiced concerns about a possible serial offender operating in Tyumen, noting similarities between the most recent case and earlier missing-child incidents. The adviser did not elaborate on the decision reached today. Further comments came from Marina Kozyr, who represents the victim’s family, stating disagreement with the ruling and questioning the guilt of Berezhnoy. Kozyr cited the presence of volunteers, police dogs, and service personnel during the apartment search as reasons to doubt guilt. The family’s representative expressed a desire to review all case materials to understand the full scope of the evidence and the legal process. He also suggested the suspect’s link to the case could be more incidental, pointing to a phone that went missing on the day of the disappearance and a family interaction that followed as part of the broader narrative.
The ongoing discussion reflects the intense emotions surrounding the case and the uncertainties that remain for those following it closely. The court’s decision stands as a definitive outcome in a case that has drawn national attention and prompted debate about investigation practices, public security, and the handling of sensitive information in crimes involving minors.