Two former ‘United Russia’ lawmakers in Astrakhan are sentenced to decades in prison for sex crimes against minors

A court in Astrakhan has sentenced Vitaly Kurskov and Igor Poplevko, two former regional lawmakers from United Russia, to 24 years and 16 years in prison, respectively, for sexual crimes against minors. The two ex regional Duma deputies were convicted of committing rape and sexual abuse against minors and producing child pornography.

Case evidence showed that the two men invited children and teenagers to an apartment, where they “perpetrated lewd acts against the minors and engaged in sexual intercourse,” while recording the encounters on video.