A man sentenced to 23 years for the rape and murder of a retired woman has been released from a penal colony in Kirov Oblast, according to a report by the human rights project "Trauma Center" ("Travmpunkt") on August 26, citing the victim’s relatives.
The letter shared by human rights defenders with the "Ostorozhno, Novosti" channel identified the convict as 29-year-old Ivan Rossomakhin, who was released from the colony on August 19.
In March 2023, Rossomakhin visited his 85-year-old acquaintance, whom he then raped and murdered with a cold weapon. Initially sentenced to 22 years in a penal colony, his term was extended to 23 years upon appeal.
Before the murder of the pensioner, Rossomakhin had a criminal history, including a 14-year sentence for committing robbery with violence. However, he was released and joined the war effort in September 2022, subsequently receiving a pardon from Vladimir Putin.
Former Wagner PMC members continue to commit crimes after returning from the war. For instance, in June, ex-mercenary Vladimir Vlasov was sentenced to 14 years in a penal colony in Lipetsk Oblast. After his return from Ukraine, he killed his 4-year-old stepdaughter. Following his sentencing, Vlasov requested to rejoin the war effort.