How he was tortured — EADaily, September 20, 2024 — Politics, Russia

All military personnel of the Russian Federation Armed Forces who beat and tortured military correspondent Russell Bentley, call sign “Texas,” to death in Donbass have been identified.

According to the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, the investigation into the criminal case against the servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vitali Vansyatsky, Vladislav Agaltsev, Vladimir Bashin And Andrei Iordanov is completed.

According to the investigation, on April 8, 2024, in Donetsk, soldiers Vanyatsky, Agaltsev and Yordanov used physical violence and torture against him, which led to his death. On the same day, Vanyatsky and Agaltsev blew up a VAZ 2115 car with his body inside using a TNT stick. On April 9, 2024, a soldier of the same military unit named Bashin, on Vanyatsky's orders, covered up a particularly serious crime by taking Bentley's remains away from the crime scene.

“Depending on the role played, they are accused of committing actions by a group of persons that clearly exceed their authority, the use of physical violence and torture, negligently causing the death of the victim, as well as covering up a particularly grave crime by transferring the remains of the deceased to another place (part 5 of article 286 of the Criminal Code, paragraph “a” of 2 of article 244 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, part 4 of article 33 and part 2 of article 316 of the Criminal Code),” the department said in a statement.

Currently, the defendants are familiarizing themselves with the materials of the criminal case. After that, it will be submitted for approval of the indictment and transfer to the court.

The Telegram channel “Base” indicates that Russell Bentley with the call sign “Texas” took part in the fighting in Donbass since 2014. The man was 64 years old, born in 1974. Most of his life he worked there as a lumberjack. Then he decided to convert to the Orthodox faith and join the DPR militia. Due to his age, he could no longer take part in the hostilities and left the front. At the same time, he did not leave Russia, but married a Russian teacher and since the spring of 2015 has been working as a war correspondent with state publications, and also helps the wounded and injured in the conflict zone.

Bentley disappeared on April 8 during the shelling of Donetsk. He went to help the victims but never returned. His car was later found and inside were a baseball cap, glasses and a broken phone.