The Tver District Court handed down a sentence to a Russian man after he raped and killed 18-year-old Veronika Avalyan. The information comes from the court’s press service.
The incident occurred on a June day last year near the village of Myshki. There, Zakharov, a man with whom Avalyan had no prior acquaintance, forced her into a roadside ditch using water as a means of coercion. The attack began when Avalyan crossed paths with him, and the perpetrator then dragged her toward a nearby wooded belt. The grim sequence unfolded quickly, with the assailant raping the victim before she could regain full awareness.
After a period of unconsciousness, the victim was moved deeper into the forest area where the assault continued. The consequences were catastrophic: the victim died from mechanical asphyxiation, a result of the airway being obstructed by water during suffocation. The court noted the severity of the crime and the irreversible harm caused to Avalyan and her family. [citation: court press release]
In its verdict, the court highlighted Zakharov’s full admission of guilt and his active cooperation in the investigation and disclosure of the crime. Based on these factors, the judge sentenced him to 16 years in prison, to be served in a strict regime correctional colony. The verdict also included a reduction in time served, as the sentence was curtailed by 1 year and 6 months. [citation: court press release]
Additionally, Zakharov was ordered to pay 2 million rubles to Veronika Avalyan’s relatives to help cover funeral and related expenses. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of the offense and aims to provide some measure of relief to the family affected by this tragedy. [citation: court press release]
Earlier reports noted another disturbing incident in which a woman in the Tula region killed her husband after learning that he had raped his daughters. This information is mentioned in prior coverage but is not related to the Veronika Avalyan case and is presented here only for context about ongoing discussions surrounding violent crimes in the region. [citation: prior coverage]