Russia opens criminal probe into Russian pilot abduction by US, Liberian special services

MOSCOW, April 6. /TASS/. Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal probe into the abduction of Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko by US and Liberian special services, Senior Assistant to the Head of the Rostov Region Investigative Department Galina Gagalayeva confirmed to TASS on Monday.

"The Russian Investigative Committee’s Investigative Department for the Rostov Region has instituted criminal proceedings against 11 employees of the Drug Enforcement Administration of the US Department of Justice, 4 employees of the Republic of Liberia Security Service, and also against unidentified persons," Gagalayeva said.

"These persons are suspected of committing crimes stipulated by part 2, article 126 of Russia’s Criminal Code (the abduction of a person by a group of people through deliberate conspiracy, using violence threatening the person’s life and health, and associated with the threat of using such violence (part 2, article 302 of Russia’s Criminal Code (coercion of a suspect (accused person) into giving evidence through the use of threats or other illegitimate actions by interrogating persons associated with the use of violence, abuse and torture," she said.