MOSCOW, July 17 (RIA Novosti) – A gang of armed robbers broke into the country home of a prominent Russian scientist, severely beat him and his wife, and fled with some 3.5 million rubles ($110,000) in valuables, a law enforcement source told RIA Novosti Wednesday.
Professor Sergei Seredenin, 68, director of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Pharmacology, and his spouse were attacked on Tuesday after the robbers entered through an unlocked door to the house, about nine kilometers (six miles) north of Moscow.
The robbers took $60,000, 20,000 euros ($26,000) and 570,000 rubles in cash, a diamond ring, two watches, a camera and other items, the source said.
The police’s press service confirmed to RIA Novosti that the incident had occurred, but declined to provide details, adding, however, that a criminal case had been opened on charges of armed robbery, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
