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In a disturbing incident that has captured the attention of many, a 16-year-old boy has been apprehended by Moscow authorities in relation to the murder of a high-ranking official from Russia’s state censorship agency, known as Roskomnadzor. The alleged crime took place on January 19, although details surrounding the event have been shrouded in silence, as state and pro-Kremlin media were instructed to refrain from reporting on the matter.
The initial reports emerged from an anonymous Telegram channel named VChK-OGPU, which claims to have connections within Russia’s security apparatus. This channel revealed that the teenager, referred to as Artyom A., is accused of fatally stabbing Alexey Belyaev, the deputy head of the department overseeing internet censorship at Roskomnadzor.
Details of the incident
The tragic event reportedly occurred at the entrance of Roskomnadzor’s headquarters in Moscow. As Belyaev was exiting the building, he was attacked. Witnesses at the scene claim that agents from the FSB, Russia’s national security agency, arrived promptly, leading to a complete classification of the details surrounding the incident.
Despite the gravity of the situation, there has been a conspicuous absence of coverage from Russian law enforcement and affiliated news agencies. The information available primarily comes from the suspect’s mother, Inna A., who sought legal assistance for her son through social media posts that have since been deleted.
Charges against the teenager
Inna A. disclosed in her posts that investigators are alleging her son fatally stabbed Belyaev in the chest. The authorities have indicated that the murder was driven by political or ideological motivations, labeling Artyom A. as a strong adversary of Roskomnadzor’s actions. They claim that the attack was premeditated, suggesting a deeper motive behind the violence.
Background on the victim
Alexey Belyaev had been a part of Roskomnadzor since 2011, holding a position as the deputy head of the Department of Control and Supervision in the communications sector. This department is crucial for enforcing internet regulations, including blocking websites and managing online traffic.
In recognition of his work, Belyaev received a letter of appreciation from President Vladimir Putin in 2017 for his contributions to ensuring the smooth operation of the communications infrastructure used for electronic voting in Russia. Intriguingly, it was reported that on the day of his murder, both his passport and taxpayer identification number were invalidated.
The suspect’s online presence
Investigative outlets Agentstvo and VChK-OGPU have connected Artyom A. to various social media accounts, including a YouTube channel where he created content featuring a cartoon persona. The channel, active for approximately five years, contains a mere five videos, with the latest one uploaded shortly before the incident.
This recent video includes the cartoon character reflecting on a difficult year, hinting at the challenges faced by the channel, which had to remove several videos due to what he described as an “absurd situation.” Interestingly, although the channel’s newest upload attracted around 100 views, earlier videos from late received nearly 20,000 views. This surge in viewership occurred despite restrictions imposed by Roskomnadzor on YouTube playback speeds, effectively crippling the platform for many users.
Following the inquiries from journalists, Inna A. took the step of blocking communication with the investigative team, indicating a desire for privacy amid the ongoing legal proceedings.