Bootleg Alcohol Kills Dozens in Leningrad Region

Authorities in Russia’s Leningrad (Slantsevsky) district say bootleg alcohol consumed this month has killed between seven and 19 people and hospitalized others, with reports varying across outlets. Police have detained multiple suspects — including a resident of Gostitsy accused of selling an alcohol-containing liquid and two others suspected of supplying raw alcohol and producing homemade spirits — and prosecutors have opened a criminal case. Officials say labs have confirmed methanol poisoning in eight deaths and investigators are examining whether industrial-grade alcohol was used. The deaths occurred across the Slantsy/Slantsevsky district near the Estonian border, where local sources say illegal alcohol production is common and some alleged suppliers had prior fines or were local workers. Experts and officials say poverty, higher retail prices and regional sales restrictions are driving people to cheap, dangerous homemade or surrogate alcohol despite tougher post-2016 controls.