Son of Former Senior Official Reportedly Arrested in Moscow Murder Investigation

Aug. 12, 2026 Sergei Vedyashkin / Moskva News Agency The son of a former Russian government official has been arrested on murder charges in Moscow after allegedly stabbing an acquaintance to death inside an apartment, law enforcement sources told the media Wednesday. Alexander Khotin was detained Tuesday in the town of Mozhaysk west of Moscow, where they allegedly found a blood-stained knife inside a bathroom, according to RBC. Investigators launched a murder investigation. Telegram channels with links to Russia’s security services reported that, on Monday night, Khotin got into an argument with 54-year-old Alexander Kumantsov inside an apartment in western Moscow. Telegram channels Mash and Shot, however, disagree on Khotin’s age, with one writing he is 33, and the other 34 years old. During the altercation, Khotin allegedly stabbed Kumantsov at least seven times in the neck, face and head. Kumantsov managed to crawl out of the apartment into the hallway and knock on neighbors’ doors for help, according to Ren TV. He died in the hospital hours later. Ren TV video showed blood stains across at least two apartment building floors. There were no public statements by officials on the murder investigation and The Moscow Times could not independently verify the media reports. Khotin is the son of Igor Albin, who served as Russia’s minister of regional development between 2012 and 2014, then as deputy governor of St. Petersburg between 2014 and 2018. Albin, formerly Igor Slyunyayev, held executive positions at Gazprombank and worked as a university adviser following his government career. Ren TV reported that Albin and his son have been estranged and have not maintained contact for a long time. Read more about: Moscow , Crime Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Moscow Businessman Arrested Over Decades-Old Contract Killings Ibragim Suleimanov was arrested after the alleged gunman reportedly testified against him. 1 Min read Moscow Metro Introduces ‘World’s First’ Pay-by-Face System The system, named "Face Pay," has been fitted at special turnstiles across the Russian capital’s more than 240 metro stations. In Photos: Moscow Scorched By Record Summer Heatwave Staying cool in Russia's capital requires creativity when the temperatures are this high. Moscow Eases Registration for Foreigners to Dine at ‘Covid-Free’ Restaurants – Reports Expats complained of their inability to obtain the required QR code proving their vaccination or negative test results.