GTA gang

Ibaydullo Subkhanov (also known as Rustam Usmanov) is an Uzbek and a citizen of Osh, Kan. He arrived in Russia in 2004 and moved in with an older woman named Barakt Khasanova at a staff house in Udelnaya. Later, a younger woman named Ranohon Khasanova, who was his unofficial wife, also moved in, accompanied by two daughters from previous relationships.{{cite web|url=http://www.dni.ru/incidents/2014/11/14/286290.html|title=ДНИ.РУ ИНТЕРНЕТ-ГАЗЕТА ВЕРСИЯ 5.0 / Раскрыта история появлия банды ГТА|work=ДНИ.РУ}} Ranohon Khasanova and her children disappeared on the night of the firefight on 6 November, and are still wanted internationally.

Subkhanov became a radical Islamist in 2011, and later fought for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Syrian Civil War. When Subkhanov returned to Russia, he met some Tajiks who were members of an extremist pan-Islamic organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir. Later, Subkhanov worked as a house/villa servant for a top official in the federal office of the Prosecutor General of Russia, Alexei Staroverov, who had owned the villa since 2010. Subkhanov's mother reportedly also worked in the official's home. Subkhanov was killed by a police sniper during a gunfight on 6 November 2014 at the age of 32.

The gang was founded by Kyrgyz national Ibaydullo Subkhanov in Udelnaya in March 2012. Believing a revolution would soon take place in Uzbekistan, Subkhanov, operating under the alias Rustam Usmanov, established a self-proclaimed jamaat (gathering) in order to train soldiers for ISIL. As a form of training, Subkhanov would take new members along with him on missions during which they were forced to murder victims as a way of proving their dedication to the cause.

In September 2013, a motorist was killed along the M9 highway. The following month, another man was killed near the town of Istra, and in December, the bodies of four men were discovered in a cabin north of the capital, all suffering from gunshot wounds.

Late into the night of 2 May 2014, an elderly couple, Anatoly and Tatyana Lebedev, were ambushed and killed along the road. The only item reported stolen was an iPad, even though a wallet was clearly visible on the dashboard.

On 30 June 2014, Alexei Tsyganov, a 53-year-old man from Tula Oblast, was found shot dead {{cvt|25|m|abbr=on}} from his car {{cvt|45|km|abbr=on}} from Moscow.

On 18 August 2014, the tenth victim of the gang's activities, 31-year-old Albert Yusupov, was found dead along the A-108 motorway. He had called a friend about a burst tire hours before his body was found. The story attracted widespread attention in the media, as all of the victims were killed with 9mm bullets, and their vehicles had been damaged by homemade caltrops.{{cite web|url=http://www.mk.ru/incident/2014/08/19/seriya-ubiystv-avtovladelcev-v-podmoskove-novye-podrobnosti.html|title=Серия убийств автовладельцев в Подмосковье: новые подробности|author=Владимир Седов|date=19 August 2014 |website=MK |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526204502/http://www.mk.ru/incident/2014/08/19/seriya-ubiystv-avtovladelcev-v-podmoskove-novye-podrobnosti.html |archive-date= May 26, 2022 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.mk.ru/incident/2014/08/19/na-yuge-podmoskovya-zastrelen-chetvertyy-voditel-za-tri-mesyaca-khodyat-slukhi-ob-avtomanyake.html|title=На юге Подмосковья застрелен четвертый водитель за три месяца: ходят слухи об автоманьяке|author=Владимир Седов|date=19 August 2014 |website=MK |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510194451/http://www.mk.ru/incident/2014/08/19/na-yuge-podmoskovya-zastrelen-chetvertyy-voditel-za-tri-mesyaca-khodyat-slukhi-ob-avtomanyake.html |archive-date= May 10, 2022 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.newsru.com/crime/20aug2014/serkilshotautopdm.html|title= В Подмосковье ищут "дорожных маньяков", убивающих водителей и пассажиров легковушек в районе трассы "Дон"|date=20 August 2014 |website=NEWSru.com |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230915032241/https://www.newsru.com/crime/20aug2014/serkilshotautopdm.html |archive-date= Sep 15, 2023 }}

The Russian media reported on several theories concerning the gang's origins. Some expressed the belief that the killers were satanists because of the black, crucifix-shaped caltrops used in the attacks.{{cite web|url=http://www.vocativ.com/world/russia/grand-theft-auto-gang-moscow/|title=A Grand Theft Auto Gang Is Terrorising Moscow |first1=Marc |last1=Bennetts |website=Vocativ |access-date=21 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404122005/http://www.vocativ.com/world/russia/grand-theft-auto-gang-moscow/|archive-date=4 April 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.vocativ.com/world/russia/grand-theft-auto-gang-moscow-2/|title=Cops Collar Real Life "Grand Theft Auto" Gang |first1=Marc |last1=Bennetts |website=Vocativ |access-date=21 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404115937/http://www.vocativ.com/world/russia/grand-theft-auto-gang-moscow-2/|archive-date=4 April 2016|url-status=dead}}

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, theorised the gangsters were Ukrainian nationalists, attempting subversive tactics against the Russian state.{{cite web|url= https://news.yahoo.com/grand-theft-auto-gang-sows-terror-in-moscow-25510460.html|title='Grand Theft Auto' gang sows terror in Moscow|date=13 November 2014|access-date=8 March 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220309013051/https://news.yahoo.com/grand-theft-auto-gang-sows-terror-in-moscow-25510460.html |archive-date= Mar 9, 2022 }}

Well known psychologist Mikhail Vinogradov, who worked in the police force during the Soviet era, suggested, after studying photos and videos of the gang leader and two gang members from surveillance cameras, that the gang was composed of experienced professionals from special forces, or former members of some other authority.{{cite web|url=http://www.ruscur.ru/news/0/05/97/59733.shtml|title=Следователи добыли фото членов банды ГТА |website=ruscur.ru |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170903185551/http://www.ruscur.ru/news/0/05/97/59733.shtml |archive-date= Sep 3, 2017 }}

The Russian media also began warning travellers about the gang in the summer of 2014, comparing their violent robberies to the actions of characters in the Grand Theft Auto video game series. Police agencies issued warnings to travellers, advising them not to stop until they reached a police road post or petrol station. Vigilante citizens, outraged by a lack of action from police and other authorities, soon organised armed patrols and started night raids in the areas south of Moscow, checking suspicious cars in an effort to stop the gang.{{cite web|url=https://meduza.io/galleries/2015/09/08/ohota-za-bandoy-gta|title=Охота за "бандой ГТА": Как стритрейсеры ловили убийц на ночных дорогах Подмосковья. Фотоистория Рамиля Ситдикова |website=Meduza |date=September 8, 2015 |access-date=1 August 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020203114/https://meduza.io/galleries/2015/09/08/ohota-za-bandoy-gta |archive-date= Oct 20, 2023 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/150-vigilante-street-racers-wage-manhunt-for-gang-of-highway-killers/506883.html|title=150 Vigilante Street Racers Wage Manhunt Around Moscow for Gang of Highway Killers - News|work=The Moscow Times |first1= Allison |last1=Quinn |date=Sep 11, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160401210554/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/150-vigilante-street-racers-wage-manhunt-for-gang-of-highway-killers/506883.html |archive-date= Apr 1, 2016 }}{{cite web|url=http://introvertum.com/seriya-ubiystv-na-podmoskovnyih-trassah-pervyie-podozrevaemyie/|title=Банда GTA. Хронология. Обновляемый пост. Август 2014 — 24 октября 2015 г.}}

After warning citizens not to interfere with law enforcement operations, police eventually issued a computer-generated image of a suspect in mid-September 2014.{{cite web |url=http://gamebomb.ru/files/galleries/001/f/f3/139021.jpg |title=139021 |website=Gamebomb.ru |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802132550/http://gamebomb.ru/files/galleries/001/f/f3/139021.jpg |archive-date= Aug 2, 2017 }}{{cite web|url=http://lifenews.ru/news/141813|title=Составлен фоторобот еще одного убийцы из банды ГТА|date=1 October 2014|work=Life News |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160403193301/http://lifenews.ru/news/141813 |archive-date= Apr 3, 2016 }} A variety of methods were used by police and other authorities to find the gang, including tracking the stolen iPad signal,{{cite web|url=http://www.newsru.com/crime/09sep2014/gtagangipadpdmsk.html|title=Новости NEWSru.com :: Передвижения "банды ГТА", убивающей водителей на подмосковных трассах, отследили по сигналу с iPad| date=9 September 2014 }} and switching off traffic lights.{{cite web|url=http://lifenews.ru/news/142768|title=Для задержания подозреваемого из банды ГТА отключили светофоры|date=15 October 2014|work=Life News}}{{cite web|url=http://rrnews.ru/news/u4844/2014/10/15/84654|title=В Москве, для задержания подозреваемого из банды GTA, отключили светофоры|date=15 October 2014|access-date=1 August 2017|archive-date=1 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801233725/https://rrnews.ru/news/u4844/2014/10/15/84654|url-status=dead}}

On 6 November 2014, police raided an estate on Gor'kov Street in Udelnaya, killing Subkhanov and arresting nine other gang members. News agencies reported that the gang had been captured after a fierce gunfight around 3:00 a.m-3:20 a.m. in a private villa ( {{coord|55.6250354|38.0257228}} ) situated at Gor'kov street, 39, in the village of Udelnaya, Ramensky District, {{cvt|10|to|15|km|mi}} south-east of Moscow.{{cite web|url=http://www.rawstory.com/2014/11/moscows-bloodthirsty-grand-theft-auto-gang-is-taken-into-custody-in-violent-confrontation/|title=Moscow's bloodthirsty "Grand Theft Auto gang" is taken into custody in violent confrontation| date=6 November 2014 }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.mreporter.ru/reports/42605 |title=Мобильный репортер - Репортаж "На месте ликвидации банды "ГТА" в посёлке Удельная Раменского района работают спецслужбы" |access-date=21 March 2016 |archive-date=4 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404074144/http://www.mreporter.ru/reports/42605 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://zhukvesti.info/articles/detail/35952/ | title=Zhukvesti | access-date=21 March 2016 | archive-date=20 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220003048/http://www.zhukvesti.info/articles/detail/35952/ | url-status=dead }} Subkhanov was killed by a police sniper after reportedly initiating the gunfight by throwing a hand grenade towards the police and a Federal Security Service (FSB) special team after shouting Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest).

Around 60 assorted weapons were found after the gunfire ended and a fire was controlled by firefighters. Most of the firearms were gas pistols (a non-lethal weapon for self-defence) remade to fire live bullets from standard 9mm ammunition rounds. All of these pistols had stickers with numbers. Experts found that one of these pistols was used in six murders.

Another 10 people were captured in other places in the Moscow region. On 6 November the main group of the GTA gang was captured at the Dmitrovskoe Highway, north of Moscow. Two Kalashnikov sub-machine guns (AKS type) with 100 rounds were confiscated.{{cite web|url=http://news.mail.ru/incident/20055780/|title=Полицейские задержали членов банды GTA|work=Новости Mail.Ru}} Some gang members were on the run until 16 November.{{cite web|url=http://ria.ru/incidents/20141116/1033493693.html|title=СК: арестованы пятеро из десяти членов "банды ГТА", четверо в бегах|work=РИА Новости| date=16 November 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.vesti.ru/doc.htmlid=2121278 |title=Вести.Ru: новости, видео и фото дня |work=vesti.ru }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

List of suspects (Surname, First Name) - seven-eight males, two-three females (according to different sources):

Males: Absmatov Rashid, Okhunov Nematjohn, Rakhimov Abnunakhob, Ibragimov Dierbek, Akhmadjonov Alerbek, Sultanov Tolibjohn, Mamadchonov Abdumukim, Fazalitdin Khasanov. Khazratkhion Dodokhoev and Zafarjohn Guljamov were arrested later

Females: Sultanova Khosiyat, Sultanova Markhabo, Chekushina Maria (Russian citizen, later released as the wife of another labour migrant, not connected with the gang).{{cite web|url=http://vaostory.ru/blogs/bez-komentariev/banda-gta.html|title=Банда GTA.}}

Later, two other people were arrested in Tajikistan by local police. The main ideologist of the gang, Bair Gulomov, who is the uncle of fellow gang member Zafarjohn Guljamov, was arrested around November 2015. ISIL recruiter, 38 year old Farrukh Azamjohn was reported arrested on 28 June 2016. As of June 2016, the Russian authorities were still in consultation with authorities in Tajikistan about having both suspects dealt with under Russian justice.{{Cite news|title=В Таджикистане задержан последний член банды ГТА |url=http://www.avesta.tj/security/41641-v-tadzhikistane-zaderzhan-posledniy-chlen-bandy-gta.html |work=Авеста |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629155255/http://www.avesta.tj/security/41641-v-tadzhikistane-zaderzhan-posledniy-chlen-bandy-gta.html |archive-date=2016-06-29}}{{Cite news|title=В Душанбе задержан член "банды GTA"-вербовщик ИГИЛ|url=http://news.tj/ru/news/v-dushanbe-zaderzhan-chlen-bandy-gta-verbovshchik-igil|work=Азия плюс|access-date=1 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629201302/http://www.news.tj/ru/news/v-dushanbe-zaderzhan-chlen-bandy-gta-verbovshchik-igil|archive-date=29 June 2016|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|title=В Таджикистане задержан вербовщик ИГ из "банды GTA"|url=http://kyrtag.kg/society/v-tadzhikistane-zaderzhan-verbovshchik-ig-iz-bandy-gta/|work=Киргизское Телеграфное Агентство|access-date=1 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817151047/http://kyrtag.kg/society/v-tadzhikistane-zaderzhan-verbovshchik-ig-iz-bandy-gta/|archive-date=17 August 2016|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|title=В Душанбе задержан член "банды GTA"-вербовщик ИГИЛ|url=http://nm.tj/incident/40539-v-dushanbe-zaderzhan-chlen-bandy-gta-verbovschik-igil.html}}{{Cite news|title=В Таджикистане задержан вербовщик ИГ из "банды GTA"|url=http://www.gazeta.kg/news/kyrgyzstan/102357-v-tadzhikistane-zaderzhan-verbovschik-ig-iz-bandy-gta.html|work=Газета.кг|access-date=1 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629162447/http://www.gazeta.kg/news/kyrgyzstan/102357-v-tadzhikistane-zaderzhan-verbovschik-ig-iz-bandy-gta.html|archive-date=29 June 2016|url-status=dead}}

In August 2017, it was reported that another four members fled internationally and have yet to be located. In the same month, three members died in an attempt to flee court custody.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/world/europe/russia-moscow-gta-gang-dead.html|title=3 'G.T.A. Gang' Members Killed in Gunfight at Moscow Courthouse|last=Pigman|first=Lincoln|date=2017-08-01|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-08-28|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

Ranohon Khasanova, Subkhanov's unofficial wife, and her two daughters disappeared on the night of the firefight on 6 November and are still wanted internationally.

Russian President Vladimir Putin personally congratulated the Minister of Internal Affairs Vladimir Kolokol'cev for a successful investigation against the gang. Putin mentioned that the gang's actions can be described as a terrorist crime. He also applauded the cooperation between the police and the FSB during the investigation and said, "I hope you will get it (investigation) to the end."{{cite web|url=http://ria.ru/society/20141108/1032268551.html|title=Путин поздравил главу МВД РФ с наступающим профессиональным праздником|work=РИА Новости| date=8 November 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/46977|title=Рабочая встреча с Министром внутренних дел Владимиром Колокольцевым|work=Президент России|date=8 November 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1640039/grand-theft-auto-gang-blamed-15-murders-moscow-motorists|title='Grand Theft Auto' gang blamed for 15 murders of Moscow motorists|date=14 November 2014|work=South China Morning Post}}

The information about the GTA gang and their connection with ISIL was later leaked to Russian mass media, in Arabic-language news,{{cite web|url=http://www.islamnews.ru/news-439868.html|title=Членами банды ГТА оказались гастарбайтеры-"ваххабиты" с оружием спецназа - IslamNews|author=Rinat|work=Ислам и мусульмане в России и в мире}} and abroad.{{cite news|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-isis-central-asia-media-islamic-state-moscow-grand-theft-auto/26679654.html|title=Russian Media Suggests Moscow 'Grand Theft Auto' Gang Linked To IS, Central Asia|work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty|date=7 November 2014 }} The gang leader, Subkhanov, was probably previously personally connected with ISIL, and kept contact with ISIL after his participation in the Syrian war. He received assistance from the main ideologist of the gang, Bair Gulomov from Tajikistan. Gulomov found and encouraged newcomers. Meanwhile, the war-experienced Subkhanov, who trained and ruled over the other GTA gang members, planned and executed most assaults with at least one newcomer to the gang taken along for an "entrance exam".{{cite web|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/putin-hints-at-terrorism-media-at-isis-as-roadside-killers-caught/510829.html|title=Putin Hints at 'Terrorism,' Media at ISIS as Roadside Killers 'Caught' - News|work=The Moscow Times|date=9 November 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://politicalhotwire.com/current-events/113660-moscow-gta-killers-connected-islamic-state.htm|title=Political Hotwire|date=27 June 2023 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.aif.ru/dontknows/file/1376493|title=Правда ли, что члены "банды ГТА" оказались исламскими радикалами?| date=6 November 2014 }}{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so2zrOsv8RQ|title=ТРАССА СМЕРТИ Документальный Фильм ПРО БАНДУ КИЛЛЕРОВ ГТА GTA|date=19 November 2014|via=YouTube}}

The gang members, mainly Tajiks and Uzbeks by ethnicity and citizens of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and labour migrants mainly working as unofficial illegal taxi drivers, called themselves jaamat. They were on a mission to hunt down infidels on the motor roads as a fast and efficient way of training future ISIL fighters.{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/grand-theft-auto-gang-sows-terror-moscow-165743699.html|title='Grand Theft Auto' gang sows terror in Moscow|date=13 November 2014|work=Yahoo News}}{{cite web|url=http://ok-inform.ru/proisshestviya/kriminal/46231-konets-bandy-gta-delo-peredano-v-sud.html|title=Конец "банды GTA": дело передано в прокуратуру}}

A few kilos of RDX (Hexogen) explosives were found in the GTA gang's hiding places which indicated that the jaamat was ready to commit an act of terror in the future.{{cite web|url=http://ria.ru/incidents/20141117/1033630049.html|title=Члены "банды ГТА" готовили теракты в Москве и Подмосковье, пишут СМИ|work=РИА Новости| date=17 November 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://rucompromat.com/articles/banda_gta_gotovila_diversii_na_stadionah|title=Банда GTA готовила диверсии на стадионах|access-date=21 March 2016|archive-date=2 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402160753/http://rucompromat.com/articles/banda_gta_gotovila_diversii_na_stadionah|url-status=dead}}

On 12 November the head representative of the Investigative Committee of Russia (IC or SK in Russian) Vladimir Markin said that news reports that the gang members acted like the heroes of the computer game GTA were unfounded, maintaining the gang's motivation was robbery. He did not specify when and how much money they took. These discrepancies in the gang's motives were widely discussed in Russia and abroad,{{cite web|url=http://medialeaks.ru/features/1311yt_gta|title=Пять странностей дела "банды ГТА": от мотива преступления до политики|date=13 November 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://forum-msk.org/material/power/10571407.html|title=О банде ГТА и РФ как Новороссии|date=8 November 2014}} but not in official mainstream media in Russia. There was mention in an article in which the connection between labour migrants' hate towards Russian citizens and their eager willingness to serve ISIL was discussed. This was caused by migrants' low and unstable salaries, slave-like working conditions and their unprotected, semi-official half-illegal lives in Russia.

Alexei Staroverov, head of the Prosecutor General of Russia Office administration, was suspended temporarily while an internal investigation is carried out. This was confirmed by his office 12 November 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.interfax.ru/russia/407018|title=Чайка отстранил допрошенного по делу "банды ГТА" сотрудника Генпрокуратуры|date=13 November 2014|work=Interfax.ru}} One day later, the head of IC Markin confirmed that Staroverov was being questioned by IC as a witness regarding the GTA gang. The criminal case concerning the illegal possession of weapons and ammunition found in his villa (article 222, Criminal Code of Russia) was initiated against him on 13 November.{{cite web|url=http://www.znak.com/2014-11-13/chleny_bandy_gta_skryvalis_v_dome_vysokopostavlennogo_sotrudnika_genprokuratury_rf_v_otnoshenii_silo|title=Члены "банды ГТА" скрывались в доме высокопоставленного сотрудника генпрокуратуры РФ. В отношении силовика возбуждено уголовное дело. ФОТО, ДОКУМЕНТЫ|access-date=21 March 2016|archive-date=13 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413212338/https://www.znak.com/2014-11-13/chleny_bandy_gta_skryvalis_v_dome_vysokopostavlennogo_sotrudnika_genprokuratury_rf_v_otnoshenii_silo|url-status=dead}}

He and his wife's income combined was more than 48 million rubles, but the {{cvt|273|m2|ft2|abbr=on}} villa itself and the land around it {{cvt|1110|m2|yd2|abbr=on}}, officially belonged to their underage son, a typical way to hide capital and real estate. It was purchased in 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.znak.com/2014-11-14/sosedi_alekseya_staroverova_rasskazali_kak_banda_gta_prevratila_uchastok_vysokopostavlennogo_silovik|title=Соседи Алексея Староверова рассказали, как "банда ГТА" превратила участок высокопоставленного силовика в свой оперативный штаб|access-date=21 March 2016|archive-date=13 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413173951/https://www.znak.com/2014-11-14/sosedi_alekseya_staroverova_rasskazali_kak_banda_gta_prevratila_uchastok_vysokopostavlennogo_silovik|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://corrupcia.net/news/crime/fact-18897.html|title=Богатейший прокурор России захворал, когда в его доме нашли террориста GTA}} Deputy Prosecutor General Viktor Grin had briskly intervened, issuing a personal order to close the criminal case against Alexei Staroverov as a harsh move in a long-running conflict between the Russian Investigative Committee and Prosecutor General's Office.{{cite web|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/senior-prosecutor-questioned-over-link-to-motorway-murders/511108.html|title=Senior Prosecutor Questioned Over Link to Motorway Murders - News|work=The Moscow Times|date=13 November 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.znak.com/2014-11-13/zamgenprokurora_lichnym_prikazom_zakryl_delo_vozbuzhdennoe_v_otnoshenii_kollegi_v_dome_kotorogo_skry|title=Замгенпрокурора личным приказом закрыл дело, возбужденное в отношении коллеги, в доме которого скрывались члены жестокой "банды ГТА"|access-date=21 March 2016|archive-date=13 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413203351/https://www.znak.com/2014-11-13/zamgenprokurora_lichnym_prikazom_zakryl_delo_vozbuzhdennoe_v_otnoshenii_kollegi_v_dome_kotorogo_skry|url-status=dead}} Alexey Staroverov became ill and was hospitalised with heart problems around 20 November. He had also asked to resign. The head of the Cardiology Department where Staroverov spent some time recovering was Dr. Konstantin Lyadov, who was also included nn the list of witnesses questioned about the GTA gang by IC. Lyadov owns a villa at the village of Pozdnyakovo, in the Krasnogorsk district, where another member of the GTA gang, Fazalitdin Khasanov (a brother of the gang leader's wife) made weapons (including remaking gas pistols) and caltrops for his friends.{{cite web|url=http://ria.ru/incidents/20141114/1033326871.html|title=Маркин: МВД, ФСБ и СК навсегда покончили с "бандой ГТА"|work=РИА Новости| date=14 November 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.rospres.com/crime/15081/|title="Банда GTA" под крышей академика|access-date=1 August 2017|archive-date=1 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801193158/http://www.rospres.com/crime/15081/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.znak.com/2014-11-20/sotrudnik_genprokuratury_na_dache_kotorogo_zhila_banda_gta_leg_v_bolnicu_v_dome_glavvracha_kotoroy_p|title=Сотрудник генпрокуратуры, на даче которого жила банда ГТА, лег в больницу, в доме главврача которой преступники изготавливали оружие|access-date=21 March 2016|archive-date=13 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413214505/https://www.znak.com/2014-11-20/sotrudnik_genprokuratury_na_dache_kotorogo_zhila_banda_gta_leg_v_bolnicu_v_dome_glavvracha_kotoroy_p|url-status=dead}} Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny used the GTA gang connection to Staroverov to blame the corrupt prosecutors with cover-up of ISIL terrorists in his famous anti-corruption video called Chaika (which means "gull" in Russian) after the acting Prosecutor General of Russia Yury Chaika.{{cite web|url=http://chaika.navalny.com/|title=Чайка}}

The SK/IC failed to provide any kind of list of stolen valuables which are supposed to have been the reason for the murders.{{cite web|url=http://en.sledcom.ru/news/item/981628/?type=photo&more_link=1&_=45121|title=Accused members of so-called GTA Gang start reading criminal records}} On 21 October 2015, the leader of the Russian IC, Markin, gave an interview to TV channel Russia 24 in which he said again that the aim of the gang was purely to obtain money and valuables. He did not mention any amount of money or say what valuable property had been taken.http://rushincrash.com/forces/markin-announced-the-transfer-of-the-court-case-gang-gta/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}

He also said that the 17 victims were killed and that four more gang members had disappeared abroad, were listed internationally as wanted, and were still being searched for.{{cite web|url=http://ria.ru/incidents/20151022/1306199317.html|title=Четверо членов "банды ГТА" бежали за границу|work=РИА Новости| date=22 October 2015 }}

A few previous murders which occurred in 2009 in Moscow (but not on the highway){{cite web|url=http://www.newsru.com/crime/11Nov2014/gtagang3leadarst.html|title=Новости NEWSru.com :: Под Владимиром схвачен один из лидеров "банды ГТА"| date=11 November 2014 }} and in November–December 2013 in the Ryazan region were found to be connected with the GTA gang and are now under investigation.

On 28 June 2016, the criminal case was moved to the Moscow region's high court.{{Cite news|title=Дело "банды ГТА" поступило в Мособлсуд|url=http://www.rosbalt.ru/moscow/2016/06/28/1527190.html|work=Росбалт|date=2016-06-28}}

On 6 July 2016 the Moscow regional court settled the preliminary hearing date for 13 July;{{Cite web|url=https://oblsud--mo.sudrf.ru/modules.php?name=sud_delo&srv_num=1&name_op=case&case_id=10245040&result=0&delo_id=1540006&case_type=0|title=Движение дела No. 2-67/2016|publisher=Мособлсуд}} some news leaked into media.{{Cite news|url=http://tass.ru/proisshestviya/3436021|title=Процесс по делу банды GTA начнется в Мособлсуде 13 июля|date=2016-07-07|work=ТАСС|access-date=2018-02-28}}{{Cite news|title=Назначена дата начала процесса по делу "банды GTA"|url=http://vz.ru/news/2016/7/7/820201.html|work=Взгляд}}{{Cite news|title=Предварительные слушания по делу "банды ГТА" состоятся 13 июля|url=http://www.rosbalt.ru/moscow/2016/07/07/1529901.html}}

The preliminary hearing began on 13 July in a closed session and the next session date was set for 19 July. All video and photo recording was banned in the first session at the request of the accused. Court personnel checked the public and media to prevent mobile camera recording. Three prosecutors acted for the state. Some of the defense lawyers reported that they had insufficient time to read all 170 volumes of material relating to the case. Because of this, Judge Natalia Valikova verified the identities of accused and decided to move all other actions to the next session on 1 August 2016.{{Cite news|title="Банда ГТА" пополнилась детьми|author=Алина Распопова, Анатолий Караваев|url=https://www.gazeta.ru/auto/2016/07/19_a_9700073.shtml|work=Газета.ру}}{{Cite news|title=Дело банды ГТА отложили из-за того, что оно слишком большое|url=http://www.mk.ru/social/2016/07/19/delo-bandy-gta-otlozhili-izza-togo-chto-ono-slishkom-bolshoe.html|work=МК|date=2016-07-19}}

The nine defendants listened to the accusations read by the state prosecuting attorney during the session of 1 August. The formal accusations took more than two hours to read aloud. The gang members, their cars, and their home addresses were detailed. The list of weapons took about 10 minutes to read (two Kalashnikov different caliber submachine guns were mentioned, one TT pistol and numerous self-made pistols were named, but no information on hand grenades was given).{{cite web|url=https://www.gazeta.ru/auto/2016/08/01_a_9730637.shtml|title="Банду ГТА" будут судить полгода|access-date=1 August 2017}} The 15 criminal incidents were mentioned, some of which were previously unknown to the media. The first two victims, killed in 2012, were revealed to be guest-workers from abroad working as illegal taxi drivers, personally known to the perpetrators, who were killed by the gang to obtain their cars. A homicide with no robbery having taken place was also described. In it, Vladimir Kirillyuk, the head of the supervisory council from Flora-Moskva private bank, was killed bicycling on a side-road one night in 2014. The investigators suspected that he was killed because he had witnessed something dangerous to the gang members, although what he had seen was not mentioned. All of the defendants partially admitted their guilt, but decided to give their statements later during each criminal episode's hearing.{{cite web|url=http://www.mk.ru/social/2016/08/01/chleny-bandy-gta-sami-delali-sebe-oruzhie.html|title=Члены банды "ГТА" сами делали себе оружие|date=August 2016 |access-date=1 August 2017}}

The next hearing was settled on 8 August, then the 19th and the 24th. A long break then followed, caused by a defendants' lawyer's vacations.{{cite web|url=http://argumenti.ru/incident/2016/08/464714|title=Мособлсуд устал от "банды ГТА" и объявил перерыв - Аргументы Недели|website=argumenti.ru|access-date=1 August 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://tass.ru/proisshestviya/3564106|title=Мособлсуд объявил перерыв до 4 октября по делу "банды ГТА"|access-date=1 August 2017}}

Several hearings went on throughout October. In the hearing on 31 October, Anvar Ulugmuradov gave his statements about one homicide and one homicide attempt, involving victims who were completely unknown to the gang; there was no robbery attempted. The crime was committed on the night of 11–12 June 2013 in a car parked in a forest/park near Mendeleevo settlement, Moscow region. Ulugmuradov gave a confession during the investigation that the leader of the gang forced him to kill absolutely unknown persons for training purposes. The leader said that the revolution would soon start in Uzbekistan, and that gang members, as future militants, should prove their commitment and dedication to the gang and to the underground by killing somebody.{{cite web|url=https://life.ru/t/%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8/924901/ghlavar_bandy_ghta_pri_pieriedielkie_oruzhiia_vdokhnovlialsia_filmom_brat|title=Главарь банды ГТА при переделке оружия вдохновлялся фильмом "Брат"| date=November 2016 |access-date=1 August 2017}} But Ulugmuradov denied his own confession about the purpose of the murders during the court session.{{cite web|url=http://www.mk.ru/incident/2016/10/31/delo-bandy-gta-ubiycy-avtomobilistov-gotovilis-k-revolyucii-v-uzbekistane.html|title=Дело "банды ГТА": убийцы автомобилистов готовились к революции в Узбекистане|date=31 October 2016 |access-date=1 August 2017}} He confirmed that with a yet unknown gang member "Kirgiz" they found a car in which laughter and music could be heard. The man and woman in the car were intended to be killed inside the car, shot point-blank the windows using a pistol with a self-made suppressor in a form of a plastic bottle. But 38-year-old Yulia Baranova managed to survive after two wounds (breast and shoulder) that rendered her unconscious. She called her friends after she regained consciousness in the morning and they called the police. She repeated her statements at the hearings, saying that nothing had been stolen, and the purposes of the crime were non-lucrative.{{cite web|url=http://www.mk.ru/incident/2016/10/26/vyzhivshaya-zhertva-bandy-gta-rasskazala-kak-ee-ubivali.html|title=Выжившая жертва "банды ГТА" рассказала, как ее убивали|date=26 October 2016 |access-date=1 August 2017}}

Five GTA gang members tried to escape from custody in the elevator of the Moscow regional court on 1 August 2017, around 13:50 p.m. Moscow time, just after the trial session (which ended around 13:00 p.m.).{{Cite news | url=https://www.kp.ru/daily/26712/3737694/ | title=Члены банды ГТА напали на конвой в здании Мособлсуда | newspaper=Kp.ru - | date=August 2017 | last1=Рогоза | first1=Александр }} Nine prisoners from the gang were divided into two groups after the trial. The first group of five men, accompanied by two guards, entered the elevator and moved down from the fourth floor where the session was held.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/world/europe/russia-moscow-gta-gang-dead.html|title=3 'G.T.A. Gang' Members Killed in Gunfight at Moscow Courthouse|last=Pigman|first=Lincoln|date=2017-08-01|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-02-28|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web | url=http://news.sky.com/story/defendants-shot-dead-during-grand-theft-auto-gang-trial-in-moscow-10969847 | title=Grand Theft Auto gang defendants shot dead at Moscow court }}{{Cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/01/moscow-court-shootingfour-killed-gun-attack-outside-gang-hearing/ | title=Moscow court shooting: Three 'Grand Theft Auto gang members' killed in bungled bid to escape trial | newspaper=The Telegraph | date=August 2017 | last1=Litvinova | first1=Daria }}Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/UmjSb-lrIG4 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190214232820/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmjSb-lrIG4&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmjSb-lrIG4| title = Shootout in Russian court: 3 dead as 'GTA gang' members attempt to flee justice | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite AV media| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/wLrygm5luL4| archive-date = 2021-12-11| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLrygm5luL4| title = Russia: Botched escape leaves 3 GTA gang defendants dead at Moscow Regional Court | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

The first group of gang members then stopped the lift by either swinging and jumping in it or by pressing the STOP button. They proceeded to attack the two guards by suffocating the female guard from behind and cornering the male guard. Afterward, they stole the guards' pistols (PM pistols with 32 bullets) and keys for their handcuffs. The male guard managed to call on the radio and warn others in the building. Approximately half an hour later, the technicians in the building{{Cite web | url=http://ren.tv/novosti/2017-08-01/rasstrelyannye-uchastniki-bandy-gta-polchasa-borolis-v-lifte-s-konvoirami | title=Новости | date=5 November 2019 }} managed to remotely move the elevator to the upper floor where the other trial session had just ended.

The fugitives held the man as a hostage and beat and tortured the female guard, named Elizaveta Lukjanova,{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazeta.ru/auto/news/2017/08/01/n_10378909.shtml|title = Избитая членами "банды ГТА" в Мособлсуде конвоир рассказала о нападении| date=26 February 2024 }} until she fell unconscious.{{Cite web|url=https://govoritmoskva.ru/news/129694/|title = Члены "банды ГТА" избивали женщину-конвоира 15 минут}} They then waited for the elevator to move again.{{Cite web |url=http://newsrbk.ru/news/4746082-sledstvie-chlenyi-bandyi-gta-izbivali-i-dushili-zhenschinu-konvoira.html |title= Следствие: члены "банды ГТА" избивали и душили женщину-конвоира |access-date=3 August 2017 |archive-date=3 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803051341/http://newsrbk.ru/news/4746082-sledstvie-chlenyi-bandyi-gta-izbivali-i-dushili-zhenschinu-konvoira.html |url-status=dead }}

The lift then stopped on the third floor, where three or four OMON officers, who happened to be on that floor were waiting for the fugitives. The firefight was quite long and, according to witnesses, more than 20 gunshots were fired.

A video of the firefight was published on 3 August 2017. Two policemen took position in the session hall with a lawyer hiding beside them using a chair as an improvised weapon. Viktor Ardabjevskiy, a prisoner from a different trial, and the former mayor of Miass city who was accused of contract murders, was still inside a bulletproof glass room and forced to stay and watch the firefight, which was merely {{cvt|3|to|4|m|ft}} away, through the glass. He is considered to be an important witness to the firefight.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazeta.ru/auto/news/2017/08/03/n_10386865.shtml|title = Следователям по делу "банды ГТА" поможет наблюдавший за перестрелкой подсудимый| date=26 February 2024 }} Three fugitives from the GTA gang were killed while two of them were seriously wounded.{{Cite web|url=http://ren.tv/novosti/2017-08-03/video-uchastnikov-bandy-gta-likvidirovali-dvoe-policeyskih-i-advokat-so-stulom|title=Видео: участников "банды GTA" ликвидировали двое полицейских и адвокат со стулом|date=3 August 2017}} A video of their corpses was posted shortly after the firefight.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazeta.ru/auto/video/2017/08/01/10814683/perestrelka_v_mosoblsude_shokiruyushee_video_s_mesta_chp.shtml|title = Видео: Перестрелка в Мособлсуде: шокирующее видео с места ЧП}}

Against all prisoner convoy rules,{{Cite web|url=http://www.mk.ru/incident/rozisk/2017/08/01/nazhal-trevozhnuyu-knopku-banda-gta-atakovala-konvoy-v-lifte-mosoblsuda.html|title="Нажал тревожную кнопку": банда ГТА атаковала конвой в лифте Мособлсуда|date=August 2017 }} the five dangerous criminals were guarded in the elevator by only two guards (regular criminals must be guarded by two per each, must not use the elevator, and would use one K9 unit, SWAT type units were but fortunately to another trial and shouted out in that courtroom°), the woman in her 40s and the man, 45 years old. Additionally, the prisoners had their hands cuffed in front of them instead of behind as they are supposed to be during the transfer of dangerous criminals.{{Cite web|url=http://tass.ru/proisshestviya/4454176?following_ch=2494|title=Трое членов банды GTA ликвидированы после стрельбы в Мособлсуде}} These facts provided grounds for conspiracy theories that the escape attempt was a plot by the authorities, who allegedly decided to kill the criminals by manipulating them into making an escape attempt.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mk.ru/incident/2017/08/02/versiya-specsluzhb-pobeg-chlenov-bandy-gta-sprovocirovali-chtoby-likvidirovat.html|title = Версия спецслужб: побег членов "банды ГТА" спровоцировали, чтобы ликвидировать| date=2 August 2017 }}

°The court has new system where convoy area does not have any link to public area except courtrooms and get to courtroom as first and leave at last unless arrested or justified

Two police officers who guarded the fugitives in the elevator were rushed to the hospital with serious injuries,{{Cite news|url=http://www.interfax.ru/russia/573055|title=В МВД подтвердили ликвидацию троих напавших на конвой в Мособлсуде|date=2017-08-01|work=Interfax.ru|access-date=2018-02-28|language=ru-RU}} but no bullet wounds.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rbc.ru/society/01/08/2017/5980892a9a79473c3ed14a61|title=Перестрелка в Мособлсуде: главное о "банде ГТА" и попытке ее побега|date=2017-08-01|website=РБК|access-date=2018-02-28}} One policeman, who encountered the armed fugitives after the elevator's doors were opened, was shot in the shoulder.

The three fugitives killed in the firefight were Abdumukim Mamadchonov, Mirzomavlon Mirzosharipov, and Kholik Subkhanov (the leader's brother). The two wounded were Khasanov and Gulyamov. The fourth fugitive died in the hospital on 2 August 2017. However, the information about the fourth death has not yet been confirmed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.gazeta.ru/auto/news/2017/08/02/n_10383217.shtml|title=Источник не подтвердил данные о смерти четвертого члена "банды ГТА"|date=2017-08-02|work=Газета.Ru|language=ru|access-date=2018-02-28}}

Moscow regional court finished proceedings and declared the judgment about GTA gang case 9 August 2018.

Four main perpetrators: Sherozdon Kodirov, Khazratkhon Dodokhonov, Umar Khasanov and Anvar Ulugmuradov were found guilty and got life sentence in prison, the fifth bandit Zafardjon Gulyamov found guilty and got 20 years of prison in a maximum security facility.{{Cite web|url=https://zona.media/article/2018/08/09/GTA-sentence|title = 17 убийств, перестрелка в суде и четыре пожизненных срока. Мособлсуд вынес приговор по делу "банды ГТА"}}

Numerous relatives of these convicts attended the final trial and many of them are interconnected with other relatives (because the gang members prefer to marry each other sisters while living and working in Moscow). Nearly all perpetrators were originally from Tajik city Isfara but the gang leader and his brother were from nearby Kirgiz city Osh. Relatives, interviewed by media after the trial, tried to excuse their related gang members, stressing their moral quality as initially high but "corrupted by Moscow society".{{Cite news|url=https://www.kp.ru/daily/26862/3905214/|title = "Москва его испортила - тут люди богато живут": отец члена банды ГТА, на счету которой 17 убийств, пытается оправдать своего сына| newspaper=Kp.ru - |date = August 2018 | last1=Бойко | first1=Александр }} Some articles in Russian media mentioned that many relatives already managed to receive Russian citizenship.{{Cite news|url=https://www.kp.ru/daily/26864.7/3906916/|title = Получит ли гражданство России родня убийц из "банды ГТА"| newspaper=Kp.ru - |date = 5 August 2018 | last1=Бойко | first1=Александр }}

• Inessa Tarverdieva
• Ivashevka massacre
• Kushchyovskaya massacre

{{commons}}

{{reflist|2}}

• Timeline of GTA gang news in Russian: [http://introvertum.com/seriya-ubiystv-na-podmoskovnyih-trassah-pervyie-podozrevaemyie/]

Category:2012 establishments in Russia

Category:2014 disestablishments in Russia

Category:Gangs in Russia

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Category:Organizations established in 2012

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Category:Russian mass murderers

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