Ex-Lokomotiv Chairman Admits to 2002 Murder

Sergey Lipatov, a prominent former sports executive and ex-head of Transtelkom, has formally admitted to organizing a murder that occurred in 2002. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation (SKR) has sent the criminal case to court, identifying Lipatov as the mastermind behind the killing of Alexander Fominov, who served as an advisor to the Minister of Railways at the time of his death.

The investigation concludes that the motive was financial extortion. Fominov reportedly demanded 'subscriber fees' from Lipatov in exchange for maintaining his company's contracts with Russian Railways (RZD). Instead of succumbing to these demands, Lipatov allegedly allocated $200,000 to hire professional killers. This admission marks a significant turning point in the case, as the businessman had previously denied his involvement.

The criminal case against Sergey Lipatov has proceeded to the judicial stage after a lengthy investigation into a crime committed over two decades ago. Lipatov, who previously served as the chairman of the board of directors for the Moscow football club Lokomotiv, is facing charges for the murder of Alexander Fominov. Fominov held the position of advisor to the Minister of Railways, placing him in a position of influence over the railway industry.

The Investigative Committee (SKR) has established a specific timeline of events leading to the crime. The conflict reportedly began when Fominov approached Lipatov with demands for regular payments. These funds were described as 'subscriber fees' intended to guarantee that Lipatov's business interests would retain their contracts with the state-owned railway monopoly, RZD. The pressure applied by Fominov allegedly forced Lipatov to seek an alternative solution outside the bounds of the law.

According to the version of events established by the investigation, Sergey Lipatov chose to eliminate the threat posed by Alexander Fominov rather than pay the extortion money. Lipatov reportedly agreed to pay a substantial sum to professional assassins to carry out the murder. The specific amount cited by investigators is $200,000, a significant sum in 2002.

This decision to hire hitmen represents the core of the criminal charge of ordering a murder. The investigation asserts that Lipatov acted as the organizer, directing the violence to resolve a business dispute. By bypassing the alleged extortion attempt through violence, Lipatov triggered a criminal process that has only now, 24 years later, reached the court system.

The path to the courtroom was not straightforward regarding Sergey Lipatov's cooperation. Throughout the majority of the preliminary investigation, Lipatov maintained his innocence and denied the accusations leveled against him. However, in the final stages of the inquiry, his stance shifted dramatically.

As the evidence was compiled and the investigation concluded, Lipatov agreed with the prosecution's version of the events. This agreement to the charge is a critical procedural step in the Russian legal system, effectively confirming that the case is ready for trial. It is worth noting that Sergey Lipatov has a history of legal controversy; he was previously involved in a case regarding the embezzlement of funds from Mezhtrestbank, from which he managed to evade responsibility.