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| A Spanish court has suspended the investigation into the death of a Russian defector pilot |
| 2025-12-10 |
| Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited [Regnum] A Spanish court has temporarily suspended the investigation into the death of Russian defector pilot Maxim Kuzminov, who hijacked an Mi-8 helicopter in 2023, flew to Ukraine, and was later found dead in February 2024. This was announced in a press release issued by the Valencian Community Court on December 9. It was reported that the judge temporarily suspended proceedings in the case of the murder of a pilot who deserted from the Russian army after receiving a report from the Civil Guard. The document stated that the material or intellectual perpetrator could not be identified. Thus, the court concluded that there was no evidence to bring criminal charges against the perpetrator, accomplice, and accomplices in connection with the murder of the defector pilot. Suspending an investigation means the case can be reopened if new evidence or information about potential suspects emerges. In early August 2023, 28-year-old Captain Kuzminov hijacked and landed an Mi-8 military transport helicopter in Ukraine. The flight mechanic and navigator flying with Kuzminov were unaware of his plan, and after landing, they were killed by Ukrainian security forces. Kuzminov, who had moved to Spain, claimed to have received $500,000 for hijacking a helicopter. In February 2024, he was found shot to death in the municipality of Villajoyosa in the south of the country. Unidentified assailants opened fire on Kuzminov in a parking lot in front of a residential building. He attempted to escape and fell. The attackers ran over Kuzminov's body with a car and fled. In November 2024, the American television channel CBS News reported that the defector pilot had been buried in an unmarked grave in southern Spain. Related: Maxim Kuzminov 04/02/2024 Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: April 1, 2024 Maxim Kuzminov 04/01/2024 New details have emerged about the death of defector Kuzminov Maxim Kuzminov 02/24/2024 El Pais: two people are involved in the death of Russian defector Kuzminov |
| Posted by:badanov |