A married couple in the Republic of Karelia face criminal charges after attempting to shoot an acquaintance whose life was saved when a gun misfired twice, regional law enforcement authorities said.
The incident took place in late July at a gardening non-commercial partnership in the northwestern Russian region. According to the regional management of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, an intoxicated woman conspired with her husband to kill their acquaintance following a dispute.
Investigators said the husband held the victim down and beat him while the woman picked up a firearm. She pressed the muzzle of the weapon against the acquaintance's head and pulled the trigger twice. However, the gun misfired on both attempts, leaving the victim unharmed. Following the failed shooting, the couple attempted to dispose of the weapon to conceal the crime.
Detention and criminal investigation
Law enforcement officers subsequently located and detained both individuals, opening a criminal case against the couple. Investigators reported that they intend to request a court order to place the woman in temporary custody while the investigation proceeds. Her husband is already being held under arrest in connection with a separate, unrelated criminal case.
The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation is the primary federal agency responsible for investigating grave crimes, including homicide and attempted murder. Regional investigative departments handle major criminal inquiries across Russia's federal subjects before cases move to trial.
Gardening settlements in Karelia
The site of the attack was an SNT, a common Russian acronym for a gardening non-commercial partnership. Originally created during the Soviet era to grant citizens small plots of land for growing food, these allotment communities have evolved into extensive suburban and rural dacha settlements. Families frequently spend time at these properties during the summer months.
The Republic of Karelia is a federal region in northwestern Russia that shares a long land border with Finland. Known for its extensive pine forests, lakes, and rural countryside, the region hosts numerous seasonal gardening partnerships outside its major towns.
Under Russian law, investigators will present their petition for preventive custody of the female suspect to a local court as pre-trial proceedings continue.
