"Staraya Moskwa" vodka. The two women's bodies were later found by neighbors who immediately alerted the authorities. Arrest, trial, and imprisonment The double murder of Solovieva and Artemkina quickly garnered the attention of the Muscovite press due to the cold-hearted nature of the killings and the likelihood that they were killed by guest workers. No new leads would emerge until May 23, when a young man surnamed Bushuyev reported that he had been beaten by a trio of men near a gazebo, and that they had stolen his bag, sunglasses and notebook, worth 290 rubles in total. Steblyakov and the Kardanov brothers were detained on the following day, and to the investigators' shock, all three confessed responsibility to the recent murders, claiming that they were desperate for money. After they were charged, however, Steblyakov recanted his confessions and claimed that he had been framed by the police. As Azamat was still considered under active military duty at the time, despite being a deserter, it was decided that all three defendants would be court-martialed before Moscow's District Military Court. Steblyakov's attorney then submitted a motion for the trial to be held behind closed doors, citing the sexuality of the male victims as being a potential factor for the jury to be unfairly biased against her client. The motion was granted, with the judges reminding that the sentences would still be announced publicly at the end of the trial. During the proceedings, the Kardanovs pleaded guilty to most of the charges, while Steblyakov categorically refused to admit his guilt. In the end, all three were found guilty on all charges, with Steblyakov receiving a life term, while Azamat and Robert were given 23 and 21 years imprisonment, respectively. Upon hearing the verdict, Steblyakov began crying and claiming that the entire case against him had been fabricated. As of February 2023, no new information has been revealed about Steblyakov or the Kardanov brothers' status, but it is presumed that they remain incarcerated. See also List of Russian serial killers References 1983 births Living people 21st-century criminals Male serial killers Ukrainian serial killers Ukrainian people convicted of murder People convicted of murder by Russia People convicted of robbery People convicted of assault Ukrainian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment Ukrainian people imprisoned abroad Violence against LGBT people