A Zhlobin resident seduced teenagers in late-night text messages.

Alexander Prikolotin, Deputy Head of the Investigative Committee for the Gomel Region, a young man from Zhlobin sexually abused teenagers online for five years. Under the guise of friendly correspondence, he raised taboo topics, luring boys and girls into specific content, often pornographic. He primarily operated at night, sometimes contacting victims directly during school classes. The case involves approximately 90 teenagers, including minors. Law enforcement officials have identified approximately 100 criminal incidents. Alexander Prikolotin, Deputy Head of the Investigative Committee for the Gomel Region, provided details of the high-profile case to BelTA. The Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee for the Gomel Region has

officially

closed proceedings in a criminal case against a 22-year-old resident of Zhlobin for committing several crimes under Part 1 of Article 168, Parts 1 and 2 of Article 169, Part 3 of Article 172, Parts 1 and 2 of Article 343, and Part 2 of Article 343-1 of the Criminal Code, against individuals known to be minors, including minors, both male and female, residents of the Gomel Region.

"This case involves engaging a child in indirect sexual acts with an adult for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification online," the Investigative Committee clarified.

With the development of scientific and technological progress, the internet is becoming increasingly popular among children, immersing them in this world. They spend a significant portion of their time in virtual reality, playing games, making new acquaintances, and so on. In this regard, social media, which allows minors to communicate and exchange information with friends, is becoming increasingly popular.

"While in virtual space, children inevitably face the threat of becoming victims of a crime against sexual integrity. Criminals, using information technology, gain the opportunity to remotely contact minors and commit indecent acts against them. The danger of this category of crime lies in the fact that sexual crimes against minors grossly distort a child's understanding of the world and themselves, and disrupt their relationships with others," emphasized Alexander Prikolotin, Deputy Head of the Investigative Committee for the Gomel Region. 

Children - Online

As the Deputy Head of the Investigative Committee reported, during the criminal investigation, investigators identified 96 criminal incidents, with 89 minors, including minors, as victims. The victims were studying at various educational institutions in the region at the time of the crime.

"It's noteworthy that none of the victims or their parents reported the crime to law enforcement. Establishing all the facts was made possible thanks to the meticulous and competent actions of investigators and police officers," emphasized Alexander Prikolotin.

Parents - Concerned.

Criminal case materials indicate that the overwhelming majority of parents were unaware of their children's activities and did not monitor their online activities. Adults showed no interest in who their children were texting, did not set parental controls on their mobile phones, and did not monitor their children's free time. 

Investigators are particularly concerned by the fact that some of the children had previously been victims: they had been the victims of crimes against sexual freedom and sexual inviolability committed by others.

"These circumstances led to the high latency of the accused's criminal activity. He committed illegal acts for five years before they were stopped by investigators from the Investigative Committee," emphasized Alexander Prikolotin.

The perpetrator is publicly available.

The accused found victims in a dating community on a social network. The victims corresponded with him in the evenings or at night. Sometimes, online conversations continued right during classes. Some children were not shy in their correspondence. According to the Investigative Committee, the victims used obscene language, reported drinking alcohol, smoking, and being in class during their conversations. 

"The accused created two social media accounts through which he met children under 16. He established friendships with them, after which he engaged in obscene and cynical correspondence with the minors on sexual topics. He also distributed pornographic materials, asking the victims to produce and send him similar materials. During these communications, the accused changed the account name, using female names, posed as a teenager, attempted to evoke pity and sympathy, and offered to buy alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, and other material goods in an attempt to gain their trust," the deputy head of the Investigative Committee cited examples. During the 

investigation, investigators established instances of other individuals committing crimes against the sexual freedom and sexual integrity of minors. They have also received their legal assessment. For example, criminal cases have been opened against a number of individuals for committing violent sexual acts.

Prevention of online risks

"Early detection of cases of violence against minors and providing children with comprehensive assistance minimizes harm to their health and development. Therefore, in order to increase the speed of receiving information about crimes committed against minors and subsequent timely response, properly organized and effective preventative measures are necessary, which should include a comprehensive range of measures," stated Alexander Prikolotin, pointing out several areas requiring special attention. 

First, informational and educational work should be conducted with minors and their parents , aimed at developing the necessary level of legal knowledge about crimes against sexual freedom and sexual integrity, as well as liability for producing pornographic materials depicting minors. Informing minors about self-defense tools online is also important.

Secondly, the spiritual and moral education of minors plays a significant role, aimed at developing moral and volitional qualities that facilitate correct decision-making in moral dilemmas and fostering norms of behavior, including when communicating with strangers on social media.

Thirdly, educational institutions should monitor the internet, identifying students who use social media accounts before the established age (often 13 years old). Fourthly 

, direct work with parents is essential. It is important to explain to them the need to constantly monitor the internet resources their children visit and restrict access to age-restricted sites. Furthermore, parents are responsible for the proper organization of their children's leisure time to prevent idle and unsupervised use of the internet by minors outside of school hours, including at night. 

"An analysis of the circumstances of the crimes committed indicates that educational institutions need to strengthen their preventative efforts aimed at preventing online crimes against minors," stated the Deputy Head of the Investigative Committee. During the criminal investigation, it was established that the

reasons

for the Zhlobin resident's criminal acts against sexual integrity, sexual freedom, the interests of minors, and public morality were his low level of legal awareness and disregard for the law, the Investigative Committee explained. 

"A number of factors that contributed to the commission of crimes were also identified. These included a lack of parental oversight of their children's behavior outside of school hours, weakened parent-child bonds, and a lack of awareness of current legislation governing liability for this type of crime. Minors were unaware of how to behave in such situations. Also noteworthy were inadequate controls by educational institutions over the use of mobile phones during school hours, as well as ineffective preventative work by Gomel Region educational institutions with students and their parents," noted Aleksandr Prikolotin. 

The Investigative Committee's Department submitted a report to the Main Education Department of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee regarding this matter, which was reviewed jointly by all heads of educational institutions and relevant departments in the region. A number of organizational measures are currently being implemented to prevent crimes in this category.

BELTA