A court in Russia’s Udmurtia has arrested former teacher Ilya Farber suspected of setting fire to an enlistment office in the settlement of Igra for two months, Interfax news agency reports, citing the court’s press service.
Farber is accused of arson motivated by hooliganism.
According to the prosecution, he prepared a lighter fluid in the period from 1 May to 21 May, which he later used to set fire to enlistment offices in the region. A room on the ground floor of the conscription office burned down as a result of the fire. The recruiting station was not damaged.
If convicted, Farber faces up to 5 years behind bars.
In a video published by the Baza Telegram channel, Farber was asked what motivated him to set fire to conscription offices. “I wanted to see what I’m capable of,” he replied. Farber added that he is “impressed” by the work of the Russian law enforcement.
Baza reports that two canisters of gasoline, a wire, potassium permanganate solution, funnels, five bank cards and three iPhones were found at Farber’s house. As a result of the second fire, a server room that stored internal documents and information on WWII veterans was damaged, the channel informs.
Farber previously served time in prison for bribery and abuse of power when he headed a cultural centre in Moshenka, a settlement in Russia’s Tver Region, where he also worked as a teacher. In 2013, he was sentenced to eight years behind bars and a 3.2-million-ruble (€46,800) fine. Farber denied his involvement and said that the charges were fabricated. His sentence was reduced on appeal to three years. He was granted parole in 2014.
