Grigoriy Povilaiko, 31, sentenced to 24 years for the savage rape and murder of Anna Koshulko, had served a year in prison before being released to fight in Ukraine and then returned home with a presidential pardon after just three months.
When families of the victims heard he had been released from prison to fight in Ukraine and had been pardoned by Putin they feared for their own lives until his grave was spotted.
A Russian serial killer pardoned by President Vladimir Putin in exchange for fighting in Ukraine was killed on the front lines, the independent Mediazona news website reported Thursday.
Russian authorities have opened at least 190 criminal cases against Wagner mercenaries who were pardoned in exchange for fighting in Ukraine, the independent media outlet Vyorstka reported Monday.