A criminal case has been initiated in Russia under the treaty on Sabotage, specifically article 281 part 2, with two youths aged 16 and 17 named in official briefings. The information comes from the press service of the Western Interregional Investigative Department for Transport, part of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, as reported through its official telegram channel.
According to investigators, on December 13, 2023, a minor and his friend ignited a fire inside the relay cabin located at the 320 kilometer mark of the Mikhnevo Usady railway segment in the Stupinsky district, Moscow region. The act damaged critical transport infrastructure, rendering the facility inoperable and disrupting railway operations in the area.
The prosecutors noted that the young man followed the directives of a supervisor who communicated with him via a messaging app. The minors confessed to the offenses and expressed remorse during questioning.
In response to the inquiry, a preventive measure was chosen by a court against the defendants. The case carries potential penalties that can reach up to two decades in prison, depending on the outcomes of the investigation and court proceedings.
Earlier reports indicated that the two suspects traveled to Moscow toward the end of November, where they were detained on suspicion of sabotage of the railway. They allegedly stated that they were promised a payment of 200 thousand rubles in exchange for carrying out the crime. A criminal case has been opened under the article describing sabotage conducted by a group of individuals acting in concert.
There were additional mentions of an earlier incident involving a Kazan resident who reportedly faced threats against his daughter, which led to an application for conscription and registry office considerations. These details have been cited in connection with broader security concerns raised by the authorities in the same timeframe.