The alleged killer of journalist Dmitry Tsilikin claims to be a supporter of far-right ideology, the St. Petersburg local news website Fontanka reported Thursday.
Sergei Kosyrev, 21, a student, was detained by the police earlier this week. During an interrogation he pleaded guilty, saying that he supports far-right ideas. When arrested, Kosyrev asked police officers to address to him as “The Cleaner,” Fontanka reported.
He described his life path as a “crusade against a certain social group,” and said that he killed Tsilikin while feeling not “dislike,” but hatred, the news website said.
Journalist Dmitry Tsilikin, 54, was found dead in his St. Petersburg apartment by his relatives on March 31.
According to investigators, Tsilikin met Kosyrev over the Internet. On March 27, he invited Kosyrev to his apartment where the student allegedly stabbed Tsilikin repeatedly with a knife, then stole his computer and wallet, the Kommersant newspaper reported.
Investigators tracked down Kosyrev after analyzing Tsilikin's Internet activity, Kommersant reported.
Dmitry Tsilikin was a well-known art and music critic. He contributed to Russian newspapers Vedomosti and Kommersant, St. Petersburg's Theater Magazine and used to host several television programs. He began his journalistic career in the early 1990s after working for eight years as an actor.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.