Oligarch pleads with road death families over daughter

The oligarch whose daughter’s speeding car rammed into pedestrians at a street crossing says he and his wife were ‘on our knees’ begging victims’ families to ‘forgive’ the 20 year old heiress.

Sickening videos of the crash showed Alyona Zaitseva’s black Lexus plough into the helpless crowd after she jumped a red light.

Five died and six were seriously injured in the tragic crash in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. 

 

Alyona Zaitseva was filmed by local media in Ukraine crying while waiting in a holding cell, in an unseen image from her appearing in court on Friday

The lawyers of an uber-rich oligarch, whose daughter killed five pedestrians while speeding, are working on a £1.1million compensation package, which could see her avoid jail. Alyona Zaitseva (pictured), 20, caused a deadly pile-up after jumping a red light at more than 60mph

The lawyers of an uber-rich oligarch, whose daughter killed five pedestrians while speeding, are working on a £1.1million compensation package, which could see her avoid jail. Alyona Zaitseva (pictured), 20, caused a deadly pile-up after jumping a red light at more than 60mph

This came as relatives began funerals for the four women and one man who were killed in the crash (still of family members at one of the funerals)

This came as relatives began funerals for the four women and one man who were killed in the crash (still of family members at one of the funerals)

Ms Zaitseva faces a possible 10-year jail term following the fatal accident which killed five

Ms Zaitseva faces a possible 10-year jail term following the fatal accident which killed five

Her father Vasily Zaitsev has pleaded with the victim's families for leniency for his daugther

Her father Vasily Zaitsev has pleaded with the victim’s families for leniency for his daugther

The sociology student — who had previous fines for speeding — is held in detention for two months pending a criminal investigation into the crash, and faces up to ten years in jail if convicted.

She was last seen in a court appearance wearing £1,055 Ceinture Ankle Boots by luxury Spanish brand Balenciaga and weeping inconsolably after a judge refused to allow her bail ahead of a trial.

Now her energy tycoon father Vasily Zaitsev, 61, has issued an emotional appeal in the name of himself and his wife Tatiana, 40, vowing cash help for the bereaved and injured from the accident, as a close family friend made clear for the first time that Ms Zaitseva fully accepts she was to blame for the horror. 

Now her father Vasily Zaitsev (left), an energy tycoon, is reported by Vesti Ukraine TV to be 'negotiating' with state investigators and families of the victims over substantial payments in compensation

Now her father Vasily Zaitsev an energy tycoon, pictured left with his wife Tatiana 

The Ukrainian energy company heiress ploughed her luxury Lexus into another car at a crossing, causing the back-end to spin-out and hurtle into innocent bystanders

The Ukrainian energy company heiress ploughed her luxury Lexus into another car at a crossing, causing the back-end to spin-out and hurtle into innocent bystanders

The sociology student — who had previous fines for speeding — is held in detention for two months pending a criminal investigation into the crash, and faces up to ten years in jail if convicted.

She was last seen in a court appearance wearing £1,055 Ceinture Ankle Boots by luxury Spanish brand Balenciaga and weeping inconsolably after a judge refused to allow her bail ahead of a trial.

Now her energy tycoon father Vasily Zaitsev, 61, has issued an emotional appeal in the name of himself and his wife Tatiana, 40, vowing cash help for the bereaved and injured from the accident, as a close family friend made clear for the first time that Ms Zaitseva fully accepts she was to blame for the horror. 

Citing law enforcement sources, Vesti Ukraine TV quoted a legal expert who suggested the aim of the father's campaign was to avoid a jail sentence for the sociology student

Citing law enforcement sources, Vesti Ukraine TV quoted a legal expert who suggested the aim of the father’s campaign was to avoid a jail sentence for the sociology student

The aim would be to persuade the judge both that there were 'mitigating circumstances' for her high speed driving, and that the family has acted to provide unprecedented financial compensation for the victims, said the expert

The aim would be to persuade the judge both that there were ‘mitigating circumstances’ for her high speed driving, and that the family has acted to provide unprecedented financial compensation for the victims, said the expert

The father’s move follows reports yesterday that he could be ready to spend £1.1 million in compensation, hoping that the gesture will reduce or negate any jail sentence for his adopted daughter.

In Ukraine this could happen if the hard-hit families drop claims against the girl from the wealthy family.

‘A terrible tragedy has taken the lives of people,’ said Mr Zaitsev.

‘Words cannot describe the terror and grief for the perished and injured.

‘On our knees we are asking families of the perished and injured in this horrific road accident to forgive our daughter.’

He vowed: ‘We will do everything we can for the families of the perished.

‘We are raising money and are ready to provide financial assistance.

‘It is terrible, and there are no words to express feelings when you lose loved ones.’ 

In a tearful statement in the aftermath of the bloody tragedy, Ms Zaitseva, currently detained for two months pending a criminal investigation, had vowed help for her victims

In a tearful statement in the aftermath of the bloody tragedy, Ms Zaitseva, currently detained for two months pending a criminal investigation, had vowed help for her victims

But he also made clear that he blames the driver of the car that his daughter collided with before her Lexus span out of control, smashing into the crowd and overturning.

‘The Volkswagen hit the car in which our daughter was driving,’ he said in a statement to a Kharkiv media outlet .

‘Because it was a strong hit, the car was thrown at people on the crossroads.’

The court must take into account that the accident involved ‘two participants and two cars’, he said.

‘We will accept any fair decision of the court,’ he said.

‘It is terrible for the families of injured — and for us.’

The driver of the VW Touareg, Gennady Dronov, 49, has admitted he edged forwards before the light turned green, but says he only entered the crossroads, where he collided with their heiress, after the light was green giving him right of way.

‘He was physically not able to react to a car that “flew” to the crossroads at such speed,’ said his lawyer Sergey Perepelitsa, who made clear his client does not accept blame for the crash.

Dronov suffered head injuries and remains in hospital.

And a close friend of the Zaitseva family said: ‘Everyone clearly understands that Alyona is guilty.

‘She says that herself: “My car killed people.”

‘It is as clear as day that she will be liable for what was done.’ 

In one funeral, grandmother Lyudmila Farbis buried her daughter Alla Sokol, 46, and granddaughter Anastasia Sokol, who would have turned 20 this week (still of a funeral from a victim today)

In one funeral, grandmother Lyudmila Farbis buried her daughter Alla Sokol, 46, and granddaughter Anastasia Sokol, who would have turned 20 this week (still of a funeral from a victim today)

But the unnamed friend said: ‘Another thing is not quite clear: Why has the Touareg’s driver avoided any responsibility at all?’

He is currently classed as a ‘witness’ not a ‘suspect’.

Asked if the tycoon was seeking to buy off the wounded and bereaved, he replied: ‘Looks like a payoff?

‘It will not affect the punishment in any way.

‘But those who can be saved, should be saved.’

He also admitted that Ms Zaitseva’s mother was ‘in shock’.

And he revealed that when she was ten, the heiress had been severely injured in a car crash in which her mother was driving.

‘They collided with a taxi and 10-year-old Alyona suffered the most,’ he said.

‘Doctors literally had to put her face back together piece by piece and make it anew,’ he said.

‘There are still scars left on her face that she tries to hide with makeup.

‘I could not imagine that she would break speed limits after what she went through in her childhood.

‘After that accident she started having terrible headaches, and she has been on serious painkillers for 10 years.’

The traces of drugs found in her urine could be from these painkillers, he said. 

In one funeral, grandmother Lyudmila Farbis buried her daughter Alla Sokol, 46, and granddaughter Anastasia Sokol, who would have turned 20 this week (still of a funeral from a victim today)

In one funeral, grandmother Lyudmila Farbis buried her daughter Alla Sokol, 46, and granddaughter Anastasia Sokol, who would have turned 20 this week (still of a funeral from a victim today)

Zaitsev his wife Tatiana, pictured, have pleaded with the families of the victims for leniency

Zaitsev his wife Tatiana, pictured, have pleaded with the families of the victims for leniency

Zaitsev his wife Tatiana, pictured, have pleaded with the families of the victims for leniency 

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