Former politician arrested on suspicion of organizing contract killings targeting Krasnoyarsk mobsters in the 1990s

Businessman and former politician Anatoly Bykov was arrested in Krasnoyarsk, on suspicion of organizing the 1994 murders of criminal gang members Kirill Voytenko and Alexander Naumov. Reports of Bykov’s arrest were confirmed by the Russian Investigative Committee, which announced it in connection with an investigation in a criminal case.

Investigators were reportedly carrying out searches at Bykov’s places of residence, with operational support from the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Interior Ministry, and the Russian Guard. 

News of Bykov’s arrest and suspected involvement in organizing the contract killings was initially reported by Interfax and TASS, citing sources in law enforcement. 

Sources also told the news outlets Taiga.Info and Borus that Bykov is suspected of organizing the double murder. Hit man and criminal gang member Vladimir Tatarenkov (also known as Tatarin) allegedly gave evidence incriminating Bykov. Tatarenkov has been in prison since 2012.

Bykov served as a deputy in the Krasnoyarsk Krai Legislative Assembly from 1997 until 2016. He gained prominence in the region in the 1990s, as the chairman of the board of directors of aluminum giant RUSAL’s Krasnoyarsk aluminum plant (KrAZ).