Anatoly Viktorovich Mylnikov

Nationality	Russia
Profession	Drug Dealer
Status	Unknown
Location	Russia
Contributor	no
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Bio

Criminal / scammer who told police that he'd been approached by Caucasian gangsters about participating in terrorist bombings in August 1999 Personal Background and Criminal History Early Life: He was born in 1946 in Ivano-Frankivsk. Extensive Criminal Record: Before the 1999 events, Mylnikov had spent over 20 years in prison. His prior convictions included murder, rape, and "sodomy" (the latter being a specific criminal charge in the Soviet era). Employment: At the time of his 1999–2000 activities, he served as the head of the economic security service for the publishing house "Golden Pages" (ЗАО "Золотые страницы"). Relationship with Natalya Zander The Connection: Mylnikov met Natalya Zander's husband while they were in a prison cell together. Upon his release in early 1999, he moved in with Natalya and they began a domestic partnership. The Catalyst: When Natalya was arrested in July 1999 for aiding an extortion plot, Mylnikov became obsessed with securing her release. The "Volunteers of Russia" Campaign The Hoax: To pressure the government, Mylnikov created a fictional terrorist organization called the "Volunteers of Russia". The Threats: He authored letters to the General Prosecutor’s Office and the newspaper Novaya Gazeta, threatening that buildings and communications would "blow up" every 7 days unless Zander was released. The Methodology: To hide his tracks, he manipulated a 17-year-old acquaintance, Anghelika Tumasyan, into typing the letters on a third party's computer and having random children write the addresses on the envelopes. A "Prophetic" Witness or Accomplice? The Coincidences: Mylnikov’s threats aligned chillingly with actual events. On August 30, 1999, he sent a pager message warning of a "big fireworks display" if Zander wasn't released; the Manezhnaya Square explosion occurred the next day. Direct Warnings: Documents suggest he physically visited the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) on August 31 and September 1, 1999, to warn officials of impending explosions—warnings that were largely ignored or omitted from the official trial record. The Conviction: Despite his claims that he was only "reporting" threats, the Moscow City Court found him guilty of Terrorism (Article 205). The Verdict and Aftermath Sentence: He was sentenced to 6 years and 8 months of strict regime imprisonment. Evasion: Mylnikov did not appear for his final sentencing and was declared a fugitive before being apprehended several months later. Lingering Questions: The sources indicate a deep suspicion that the state used Mylnikov as a scapegoat to close the "warning" aspect of the 1999 bombings without investigating his potential links to the actual perpetrators or why the FSB ignored his specific dates and targets.

Themes

• Bombings

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