2024-07-28 12:19:27
It will be possible to appeal the detention of Babenko in the Riga District Court. Babenko’s defense attorney Egon Rusanov told reporters after the bail hearing that the detention will be appealed.
The lawyer will be able to familiarize himself with the court’s reasoning on July 29, when the full court decision will be available.
The lawyer emphasized that he cannot comment on whether Babenko knows the other four detainees, as the defense does not have any detailed information about the case and other detainees in it.
Before the evaluation of the bail, Rusanov told journalists that his client does not admit his guilt in the indicted crime, but that the police’s decision contained complete nonsense and was not legal and justified. The lawyer also claimed that the weapons seized during the search were not found at addresses related to Babenko.
The VP assured the LETA agency that in general, three of the five persons detained in this case have been detained as a security measure today, while the security measures for the other two persons will be decided in the near future.
It has already been announced that the law enforcement officers found 17 kilograms of marijuana, firearm-like objects and elements of police uniforms with Yashin’s alleged murderers.
Currently, the information obtained in the investigation shows that the criminals were probably preparing to kill a high-ranking VP official, and this crime could be related to the professional activity of this police officer and was carried out for the purpose of revenge, this follows from the statement issued by the VP and the statement made by the head of the Criminal Police, Andrei Grishin, to journalists.
The official’s name is not disclosed, but LETA has already reported that it is Yashins, the head of the Cybercrime Combating Department of the VP Criminal Police Department, who previously held the position of deputy head of the Serious and Serial Crime Combating Department of the Main Criminal Police Department and head of the 1st Department.
Five persons were detained on Thursday. Two of the detainees have previously been punished for distributing narcotic substances. All the detainees are citizens of Latvia, and currently the information shows that they are connected with organized crime.
On Wednesday and Thursday, investigations and operational activities were carried out at addresses related to the suspects. In total, five residences and ten vehicles were searched. During the searches, 53,000 euros in cash were seized, as well as five items similar to firearms, two of which are likely to be real firearms with live ammunition and one of them with a silencer. Other firearm-like items may be air or airsoft weapons, possibly modified to fire live ammunition, but this will be determined by an expert.
Also, about 17 kilograms of marijuana, about 40 units of various types of data carriers, such as mobile phones, computers, two GPS tracking trackers, two radio signal suppressors, which are goods of strategic importance, two walkie-talkies, an optical scope with night vision, were found and confiscated from the persons. , as well as elements of State Police and municipal police uniforms.
The police have concluded that some of the confiscated items could be intended for the commission of a crime.
Criminal proceedings have been initiated for preparation for murder due to the fact that the victim fulfilled his official and professional duties. The law provides for life imprisonment or deprivation of liberty for a period of 15 to 20 years for such a crime.
One of the goals of the further investigation is to find out if other persons are also connected with this crime.
The criminal process is currently under active investigation, so it is not possible to disclose more detailed information to the police at the moment.
Asked if he remembers another case when there was an attempt or suspicion of an attempt to kill an official of the Prime Minister, Grishin did not deny that during his 30 years of service, there have also been incidents with victims of law enforcement officers.
“I would like to remind those who have forgotten that the law has power. And if someone even has the slightest idea to turn against the police officers in any way, then our actions will be strict and sharp, but within the framework of the law,” Grishin emphasized.
According to a video published on social networks, businessman Aleksandrs Babenko, who is on trial in the case of the murder of the administrator Mārtiņas Bunkus, claimed at the court hearing that the search took place at his son, who was accused of wanting to kill Yašina. According to Alexander Babenko, his son was charged with “the same article as me”. Aleksandrs Babenko, together with businessman Mihail Ulmans, are accused of inciting or ordering murder in the Bunkus case.
The database of “Firmas.lv” shows that Artjoms Babenko, born in 1992, is also among the owners of a number of companies related to Aleksandra Babenko, and a person with this name is mentioned in some publications on the web as Aleksandra Babenko’s son.
At the end of 2023, the prosecutor of the Bunkus case, Aldis Lasmanis, was asked to review the criminal case at the Riga city court in closed court sessions, as threats to the life and health of a witness had been received, as well as threats to other testifying persons. The Prosecutor’s Office had received this information from the State Police, which started a criminal proceeding regarding the incident.
Paragraph 6 has been updated with the latest information
2024-07-28 12:19:27