A murderer sentenced to death was released from prison after 29 years.

A unique case in Russian judicial practice

The “suicide bomber,” who was sentenced to death in 1994 and has since been in a colony for lifers, was released by the court. This is a unique case in the history of Russia. The man committed a crime in his youth, rather out of stupidity, and as a result of a tragic coincidence) was released from prison right on the day of Themis’ decision.

One of his first words were words of gratitude: “The Lord freed me from sins and from prison.” While Valery Saltsin is coming to his senses: learning to use a mobile phone, looking with amazement at the abundance on the shelves in stores and the cleanliness of the streets. During the time he spent in one of the harshest colonies, the world changed beyond recognition.

A story that is somewhat reminiscent of a Christmas fairy tale – in the material of the MK observer.

I saw Valery Saltsin in his cell when I was checking out a colony for life prisoners in the village of Sosnovka in the Republic of Mordovia together with the legendary human rights activist Andrei Babushkin. The late Andrei Vladimirovich had a list of those convicted who contacted him in letters and asked for help. So Saltsin was on this list. Quiet, calm and, I would even say, a benevolent prisoner. As it turned out, he spent his entire life after his arrest in incessant prayer.

His story is tragic. He was born in Tatarstan, where the heroes of the now famous new series about youth groups of the 80s and early 90s were born. The first time I was caught stealing, but then I was given correctional labor. And then he committed murder. Fearing that he would be caught stealing a pistol, Saltsin shot at the owner of the weapon. And he turned out to be a police officer. The Criminal Code of the RSFSR in that edition provided for this either 15 years (if there are no aggravating circumstances), or capital punishment (if there are any). The Supreme Court of the Republic of Tatarstan sentenced 21-year-old Valery to death. The young man miraculously escaped it – by decree of President Boris Yeltsin, he was pardoned and the capital punishment was replaced with a life sentence. He himself said about this: “By the grace of God, my life was spared.”

From the pre-trial detention center, Saltsin was taken to IK-1 Sosnovka. In total, he spent almost 30 years there. Valery was lucky – his mother did not abandon her unlucky son, she supported him all these years as best she could and hoped for a miracle. He himself believed. He said that he repented from a pure heart of all sins and especially of crime. He admitted that he had no intention to kill.

He worked all these years behind bars, which is rare for lifers. And he also corresponded with relatives, with Babushkin and priests.

And an unusual story happened with his criminal case. Back in 2010, the Zubovo-Polyansky Court of the Republic of Mordovia excluded aggravating circumstances from the sentence, but at the same time left the punishment itself the same. The famous lawyer Tamara Tsabolova reached the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, where on July 27, 2023, a decision was made that allowed the verdict of the lower court to be reviewed. On December 15, 2023, the court replaced the life sentence with 15 years.

“It turns out that Valery served 14 years,” says Tamara Anatolyevna. – By the way, by court decision, Saltsin was released on the same day.

He was met at the gates of the colony by the coordinator of the prison ministry in Mordovia, Sergei Trotsenko, who has been visiting convicts for more than 20 years.

According to Tamara Anatolyevna, for now Valery is like a blind kitten. For 30 years he had completely lost the habit of worldly life. It is possible that he will become a novice in a monastery. In the meantime, he is learning the usual things – using his phone (he can’t read messages), shopping in a store.

“He also enjoys everything like a child.” Constantly thanks God.

We have already found psychologists and employment specialists who are ready to help Valery. Using his example, it will be possible to show that the release of life-sentenced prisoners is possible and that these people are able to integrate into society.