KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA!

SEPTEMBER 10, 1999

The Most Incredible Version: Is the Killer's Wife to Blame?

Ten days ago, immediately after the explosion on Manezhnaya Square, a man called the editorial office:

— I have exclusive information on the terrorist attack.

There were always many such calls after an emergency, and we were skeptical. Nevertheless, we agreed to meet.

— How will I recognize you?
— I'll be in a light-colored suit, with keys in my hands, — the caller cut off laconically.

At the Okhotny Ryad metro station, in the center of the hall, he was there: a thin man with a mustache in a light suit, a bunch of keys jingling in his hands.

— You're late.
— Checking if I'm being followed.

We headed for the exit. Vladimir (as he introduced himself) looked around. We sat at a table in a cafe. He had two-day stubble on his cheeks, a crazy spark in his eyes. He was nervous.

Vladimir's Version of the Manezhnaya Terrorist Attack

We present Vladimir's version of the Manezhnaya terrorist attack in summary:

• In 1996, a certain Alexander Z. was detained on suspicion of two contract killings.
• In 1999, a trial took place where he was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years.
• Alexander's wife, Natalya, was left with two children.
• Since January, Vladimir started living with her.
• A couple of months later, Alexander sent a 'malyava' [prison note] through Natasha for his friends.
• The note contained the coordinates of his accomplice named Rudenko, also a killer, who disappeared with 15 thousand dollars; he and Z. had received them as payment for the murders.
• Z.'s comrades began to beat the share out of the accomplice piece by piece. But at one fine moment, the debtor disappeared.
• Then, coming to his wife, Z.'s buddies said: "If you don't want this knife to cut your throat next time, tell your husband to pay up."
• But the husband went to RUBOP [Regional Directorate for Combating Organized Crime].
• As a result, they detained... Natasha, Alexander's wife, on suspicion of organizing a robbery.
• They put her in a SIZO [pre-trial detention center].
• Vladimir lived in her apartment all this time.
• Periodically, phone calls came, and voices with a Caucasian accent asked for Natasha. Vladimir replied that she was in prison.
• The Caucasians indignantly advised him: "You, man, cannot help a woman. Act, or we will arrange such fireworks as Moscow has never seen!"
• Finally, on August 30, Vladimir received a message on his pager. The text—verbatim: "If Natashka is not released tomorrow, there will be fireworks. Sincerely, friends." The message arrived at 10:00.
• Vladimir stated: "I am in private legal practice, so I receive even tougher messages. But here my intuition kicked in; I immediately realized it was serious. I went to the police, to the MVD. They didn't believe me: 'Do you think this is serious?..' I replied: 'Believe it or not, but I'm getting out of here.' I spent the entire next day outside of Moscow—providing myself with an alibi. Upon returning, I learned about the explosion on Manezhnaya. I was summoned to the MVD and interrogated. But I could not tell them anything new."
• After that, the Caucasians called again: "You did nothing. If Natalya is not released, the explosions will be repeated every day... no, every week."

Alas, we did not believe the strange story—there were too many stretches. And we told Vladimir this directly. Having heard our doubts, he smirked:

"Watch, when you do believe, it will be too late."

We didn't believe—and now we punish ourselves for it—and on Wednesday evening, when Vladimir came to the 'Komsomolka' editorial office: "The next explosion was promised in seven days. The deadline expires tonight..."

At midnight, the house in Pechatniki exploded...

Having learned of this, we tracked down Vladimir yesterday. We sat and talked in a cafe across from the editorial office. At that moment, across his...

[Photo caption]: Vladimir in a cafe near the editorial office. We still don't know whether to believe his revelations...

[Handwritten note]: KP, 10.9.99