Sochi Women Charged in Deadly Bootleg Liquor Scandal

Two women have been remanded in custody following allegations that they sold illegal alcohol implicated in at least 10 fatalities, as reported by authorities in the southern Krasnodar region on Thursday.

According to investigators, the women, aged 30 and 71, were selling homemade Georgian brandy, known as chacha, at a market located south of Sochi, a resort city. The specific source of the toxic alcohol remains unidentified, as stated by the regional court’s press service.

The Adlersky District Court has ordered both women to remain in pre-trial detention until October 4. They are facing charges related to the illegal production, distribution, or sale of hazardous goods or services leading to multiple deaths, a charge that could result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Video released by the court’s press service captured the women appearing individually before a judge.

The authorities have not disclosed their identities, but the pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Shot has named them as Olesya and her retired grandmother Eteri. Shot further reported that both women had prior convictions for illegal alcohol sales in 2016.

The Moscow Times was unable to independently verify this information.