Instead of prison, a Russian music teacher who choked his students was sent to the front lines
In Russia, a music teacher from Yekaterinburg, whom investigators had linked to serious crimes against minors, avoided criminal punishment by signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense and going to war against Ukraine. The case against him has effectively been suspended, and the question of his liability remains unresolved, according to Russian media reports.
The man in question is 33-year-old Artem Vaganov, a balalaika teacher from Yekaterinburg who worked in the extracurricular education system and led a children’s music ensemble. According to the Russian media outlets “Ostrozhno, Novosti” and the E1 portal, the man had previously been accused of serious offenses against his students, including acts of violence and inappropriate behavior.
The investigative materials cited by journalists contain testimony that the teacher invited children to his home and offered them money to participate in so-called “breathing tests,” during which, according to the investigation, he suffocated the children with a plastic bag. The case also includes allegations of other unacceptable actions involving minors.
Despite this, it is reported that before the conclusion of the court proceedings, Vaganov signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense and departed for the combat zone against Ukraine. As a result, the criminal prosecution was effectively halted.
It is separately noted that the man directed the children’s ensemble “Obertone” and worked with children in the supplementary education system for many years. Journalists also report that on social media he used a name associated with a notorious Soviet serial killer, which raised additional questions among investigators and the public.
Currently, no official comments from Russian law enforcement agencies regarding the final status of the case have been publicly released, and the fate of the criminal proceedings remains uncertain due to his mobilization.
Also, Dmitriev is not conducting negotiations regarding Ukraine in the U.S. — Peskov.
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