Putin pardons brutal murderer in recognition of military service

Russian President Vladimir Putin has pardoned a man convicted of the brutal murder of his ex-girlfriend in recognition of his military service in Ukraine. 

Vladislav Kanyus, from the Siberian city of Kemerovo, had been serving a 17-year sentence in a maximum security prison until April, when he was released by the prison authorities in southern Russia’s Rostov region after enlisting to fight in Ukraine, despite the fact that his conviction hadn’t been overturned.

In January 2020, Kanyus killed 23-year-old Vera Pekhteleva over the course of three hours, during which he stabbed her 56 times. Neighbours heard screams and called the police several times, but officers failed to attend the scene.

“So Putin just went and pardoned a murderer. Kanyus killed Vera over the course of several hours. There were 111 injuries on her body. Vera was raped before she died and then strangled with the cable from an iron,” Russian human rights activist Alyona Popova wrote.

In September, Popova shared the news that Kanyus had been freed. “Here he is, posting photos from a barbecue, enjoying life,” she wrote.

In July, the police officers who failed to attend the scene of Pekhteleva’s murder were given suspended sentences of between 1.5 and 2.5 years.