The head of the Ural Agrarian Research Centre, Nikita Zezin, has died after an attack that occurred following a conflict over children riding quad bikes across experimental fields. The criminal investigation has been taken under the personal control of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF).
HOW THE CONFLICT HAPPENED
According to Sverdlovsk Oblast deputy Vyacheslav Vegner, on 13 July Nikita Zezin and his deputy Alexander Shanin were carrying out a routine inspection of experimental crops. On one of the plots, they found children aged 8–10 riding quad bikes across the experimental fields, damaging the crops and getting stuck in the mud, reports Toppress.kz.
The scientists then contacted the minors' parents and agreed to transport the children to the institute building in a service vehicle so they could be handed over to their families.
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE INSTITUTE
According to the deputy, at around 18:00 four off-road vehicles arrived at the institute building. He reports that several men, including the father of one of the children, attacked the research centre's staff.
As a result of the attack, Nikita Zezin lost consciousness. Then, according to the deputy, the men attacked the deputy director, Alexander Shanin.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE SUSPECTS
One of those detained turned out to be a former employee of the State Road Safety Inspectorate (GIBDD), Alexander Reveryuk. According to an investigation by The Insider, in 2011 he was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm through negligence following an incident involving the use of his service weapon. He was sentenced to 6 months in a penal colony, after which he was dismissed from the force. The court also ordered him to pay compensation of 250,000 rubles.
The detained man's wife, Svetlana, confirmed that her husband struck the scientist in the face, but claimed there was no kicking. Another parent, Arkady V., also claims that no beating took place and that the scientist was "simply pushed". These statements represent the positions of those involved and do not contain the conclusions of the investigation.
HOW THE INVESTIGATION IS PROGRESSING
On 22 July, Nikita Zezin died in hospital. It is noted that the cause of death may have been a heart attack linked to the trauma he sustained and severe stress. However, the official cause of death has not been confirmed.
Following public outcry and an appeal from the deputy, the regional directorate of the ICRF opened a criminal case under Part 2 of Article 213 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Hooliganism committed by a group of persons").
Two suspects have been detained in Yekaterinburg. The investigation intends to petition the court for their remand in custody. The Chair of the ICRF has ordered a report on the progress of the investigation.
