Russian oligarch ‘sausage king’ shot dead with crossbow while in sauna

Police have already detained a suspect, who is a resident of Moscow

Vladimir Marugov with his son Alexander, who died in a motorbike accident in 2019 (Alexander Marugov)

Masked assailants broke into the house of Russian meat-industry mogul Vladimir Marugov, popularly known as the “sausage king”, and killed him with a crossbow while he was in the sauna with his partner, according to Russian investigators.

On Sunday night, the attackers entered Mr Marugov’s estate in Istra, on the outskirts of Moscow, and tied up the businessman and his partner.

The intruders demanded money, but the woman escaped through the window and called the police from a neighbour’s house. By the time police arrived at the estate, however, Mr Marugov had been shot dead. They later found the crossbow that had been used to kill him.

The businessman owned some of the country’s largest meat-processing plants. A Moscow Times report said that Mr Marugov had been involved in a dispute with his ex-wife since last year.

According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, it has been established that the attackers fled in a car which was found in one of Istra’s villages.  

A 49-year-old Moscow resident and suspect in the killing has been detained, investigators said, adding that he has refused to testify while the search for his alleged accomplice continues.  

The investigating agency said he was believed to be the person who acquired the crossbow from a shop in Moscow, and that he was directly involved in the attack. 

During a search at the suspect’s apartment in Moscow, the agency said, a person was found handcuffed to his bed.  

The investigating authorities believe that the suspect is involved in several other criminal cases as well.