‘Fake vodka’ has been linked to 19 deaths, and has left one person fighting for their life in hospital, after a boom in illicit alcohol in Russia as prices soar in shops due to the war
A nursery teacher has been arrested after 19 people died from drinking fake vodka – with another victim left fighting for their lives in hospital.
Olga Stepanova, 60, is under investigation over the supply of counterfeit alcohol, according to authorities in the Leningrad region of Russia. The woman, whose husband is currently fighting in Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, is accused of supplying moonshine to 78-year-old Nikolai Boytsov, who then sold the fake vodka for 90 pence a bottle.
Both have been detained by local police. Boystov is accused of “poisoning” his 75-year-old wife with the illicit alcohol.
‘Bootleg’ spirits have been increasing in popularity in Russia as alcohol prices soar due to the war, with consumption said to be particularly high among pensioners.
Interior Ministry spokeswoman Maj-Gen Irina Volk confirmed that security forces have detained a resident of the town of Gostisti for allegedly “selling a liquid containing alcohol”.
Later it was reported that two people had been held. The current death toll linked to the vodka is 19, with one victim in a critical condition in hospital.
“Methanol was found in the blood of eight of the deceased,” reported Russian media outlet Ostorozhno Novosti. Checks are also being carried on others who died suddenly.
Describing the gruesome effects on one of the victims, Telegram channel Topor reported: “Yuri Spiridonov, 54, crawled to his wife on his knees and declared he was dying. A few hours later, he was dead. That same night, another man died, and then a dozen more.
“Nineteen deaths have now been confirmed, one person is in intensive care.” Boytsov was previously accused of bootleg trading.
In August, more than a dozen tourists died from methanol poisoning after unknowingly buying fake alcohol at a popular resort in Russia. The holidaymakers had visited the town of Sochi in Russia, often cited as Vladimir Putin’s favourite tourist spot.
One of victims is said to have gone blind and died from kidney failure after drinking fake Chacha – a strong, clear brandy – while two more female tourists died from methanol poisoning after arriving home.
Two people identified only as Olesya, 31, and Eteri, 71, later appeared in a Sochi court suspected of distributing the fake alcohol. At the time, the Russian Interior Ministry issued an urgent warning to Russians not to drink “alcohol-containing products of unknown origin”.