The key facts

  • Irina Usoltseva did not want a vacation in the taiga but agreed to her husband's invitation — the Investigative Committee investigator reported this, citing recorded conversations
  • Sergey's last known phrase at the tourist camp was 'We'll run up to Buratinka now and go home'
  • The investigation is considering versions of an accident and a crime; a quarrel between the spouses had previously been considered possible

What the spouses talked about before the trip

Irina Usoltseva, who went missing together with her husband and daughter, initially did not want to spend her vacation in the taiga, but still agreed to Sergey's invitation. This was told to Gazeta.Ru by Yan Syrymbetov, deputy head of the 1st Directorate for the Investigation of Especially Important Cases of the regional Investigative Committee of Russia, whom NTV cites.

Different ideas about recreation

Before the trip, the couple discussed the upcoming adventure. According to the investigator, Irina did not know the exact place they were going to, but understood that it would not be the kind of vacation she had expected: she wanted to rent a cozy cabin, stroll along the forest edge, and attend a tantric practice, while Sergey proposed a tent, a campfire, and the wild taiga. Syrymbetov quoted the woman's words: 'What the heck are we even doing, instead of tantra. Fine, then I'm taking that money back.' After some time, Irina nevertheless agreed to such an adventure, but, according to the investigation, set a condition: 'Okay, sunshine, but we have to spend the night in a normal place.' Sergey, according to the Investigative Committee representative, replied: 'Well, everyone's idea of normal is different.'

The last phrase and the investigation's versions

As a result, the family went to a tourist camp in Krasnoyarsk Krai. The assistant director of the organization said that Sergey spoke about plans to quickly visit a mountain: 'We'll run up to Buratinka now and go home.' According to the investigation, this was his final phrase. The Usoltsev family went missing after a hike in the taiga organized last year. Investigators believe it was either an accident or a crime. Earlier, the investigation allowed for the possibility of a quarrel between the Usoltsevs.