Tarkhova gives interview from pre-trial detention on charges

On Tuesday, October 21, the program «Malahov» on the channel «Russia 1» again discussed the case of the murder of former Samara mayor Viktor Tarkhov and his wife Natalia. In the new episode, journalists presented an exclusive: an interview with Ekaterina, who is accused of the crime. The conversation took place in the pre-trial detention center at women«s correctional colony No. 15 in Samara Region.

First, Ekaterina Tarkhova was asked to talk about how relationships developed within the family.

— I lived with my mom. I spent a certain amount of time with my grandmother and grandfather—that happened. It was our custom: we went to their place out of town or just to their home every weekend. As for confidential communication, any conversations and advice, it was 50–50. That is, I consulted with both my grandmother and grandfather, and with my mom. But I still gravitated more toward my grandmother because my mom worked, my grandfather worked. And still, our relationship with my grandmother was closer and warmer, — said the accused in the double murder.

Ekaterina Tarkhova also noted that her mom was an important figure in shaping her personality. But one day everything changed abruptly.

— My mom protected me for a fairly long period of my life. My grandfather always prepared us for the fact that something critical could happen in the family, some serious trial, maybe even one we wouldn«t withstand. Both my mom and grandfather always tried to maintain balance. But the only thing I couldn»t understand, and even now I don«t understand, is at what point my mom»s position in life changed. Protecting the family was her top priority, but something changed in her attitude toward me. This is probably a strange word—«envy». When it comes to family relationships, especially blood ones. But I think that my mom was just used to always being first for my grandfather. And then her daughter started growing up. And maybe she had some doubts about me working somewhere, where he would tell me or something else. Or maybe something could go not as she wanted. My mom was used to controlling everything. She is a rather tough person, somewhere maybe even a bit rough, life made her that way, — stated Ekaterina Tarkhova.

«They created a mousetrap I fell into»: about the divorce with Pasik and her son

The granddaughter of the former Samara mayor explained: family relationships became complicated when her relatives started opposing her marriage to Vladislav Pasik.

— With Vlad, our relationship started quite quickly. But there was a financial moment—that famous 76 million rubles (approximately $760,000 at current rates) (Tarkhova did not specify what this sum was; it had not been mentioned before. — Ed.). Then I started sounding the alarm. And I began doing this from Israel. There was also a wonderful fortune-teller there—Bella. She also gave me advice. My emotional state was extremely uncontrolled at that time. And I absolutely could not perceive it adequately and rationally. Because, first, I was automatically left with a small child in my arms. That«s first. Second: I understood that my family had participated in destroying my life. And it was absolutely hard to admit. And I had all the facts right in front of me. This is not some lie. And from that moment, everything, so to speak, began for us, — said the accused in the double murder.

Ekaterina Tarkhova claims that quarrels and scandals in the family began even before her and Vladislav«s divorce. The woman went to Samara, leaving her son with her husband.

— Then we took, so to speak, a pause. I didn«t take the child at that time for one simple reason—I gave Vlad a chance to cool down and waited for a gesture from him, as a man, to bring his family back. That»s one. Why did the child stay there? I perfectly understood that if I came home with my son, I would give my family a reason, showing that our relationship was falling apart. And I was still trying to defend them in my own way at that time. If I had come with the child, I would have immediately shown my parents that everything turned out as they wanted. They created a mousetrap that, in fact, I ended up falling into. I absolutely categorically did not want that, and so the child stayed there then. When I left my son, I knew in advance that I would return there, regardless of whether Vlad and I reconciled or not, but this is my child, and the mom—that«s me, — Tarkhova explained her action.

Ekaterina also admitted that the screenshots of correspondence, showing the unsavory side of the Tarkhovs« life, are indeed genuine.

— Yes, we had these correspondences. And also, when my mom was in Israel, we had a rather harsh confrontation between each other. At some point, I tried to talk calmly as well, without an emotional outburst, but it didn«t work out, — noted the granddaughter of the former Samara mayor.

Journalists asked Ekaterina where the surname Belskaya came from, which appeared at the very beginning of the story.

— I had an acquaintance with that surname, we were on friendly terms. So I just added that surname in some social networks. And I didn«t want much attention at all. It was only because of that. Since childhood, my parents taught me not to always write the surname because there were some unpleasant moments regarding certain people in terms of business. Such families have all sorts of moments. Actually, my surname is Loginova. I got it when my mom was married. But my grandfather decided to keep the surname Tarkhova. When I went to university to study, my classmates started telling me that greetings were being passed to me from prison and from Novokuybyshevsk. I was honestly in shock then. And I came home and asked my grandfather and grandmother. They answered evasively, saying yes, mom had such a husband, and that was it. Then I found out that my patronymic was Sergeyevna instead of Viktorovna, because I grew up and could look at the documents myself. And then I asked my mom. My mom said that she had been married and told me the story that she had another loved one, that I am his daughter, that in those times it wasn»t good to date people from the «90s, — recalled Tarkhova.

«He had no awareness of me, of my life»: about father Sergei Loginov

Journalists from the «Malahov» program asked the woman to comment on the situation described by Sergei Loginov: Ekaterina«s father said that his daughter called him and suggested »shaking down« her grandfather.

— The conversation was completely different. We talked, he said: «If you have any issues with me as a father, then direct everything toward your family.» With which I agreed, saying that I didn«t need anything from him before and don»t need anything now. Only I sincerely don«t understand why he appeared at all. And he told me then: »Can you find out what«s happening in your grandfather»s business?« Now this gives me a sarcastic smile because the person was trying to appear as one thing to the whole country, and I remember perfectly how that conversation went. He was specifically interested in dismantling the last business that remained with my grandfather. And he had a very strange proposal. He told me and my grandmother then that he had a wonderful, remarkable prison friend who had also been released, he would be an ideal husband, an ideal father, and asked for financial help for him. I was surprised that this was really my father because it didn»t feel like it. And then he started saying that I could have gone for this [murder]. That is, the person had absolutely no awareness of me, of my life, — stated Tarkhova.

«I brought her groceries and medicine at Natella«s request»: about Taisia Metreveli

In June 2025, in Samara, Taisia Metreveli was detained—the mother of Ekaterina Tarkhova«s alleged accomplice. The woman was placed under house arrest.

Ekaterina Tarkhova claims that she was not well acquainted with Taisia Ivanovna. She only knew that she was the mother of Svetlana (Natella) Metreveli.

— With Taisia Ivanovna, I was acquainted simply as an elderly person. Natella could ask me to take her by taxi, bring medicine or groceries. Nothing more. I can«t say that we had any close relationship. I could drop by for tea when I brought something. But Taisia Ivanovna knew perfectly well that Natella and I had a very close relationship and was undoubtedly aware when all this started. I think Natella, before presenting me with the fact, first told her mom. Her mom became a direct participant, — emphasized the granddaughter of the murdered former Samara mayor.

During the program, profiler-criminologist Sofia Bolkhovitina doubted the truthfulness of Ekaterina Tarkhova«s words. The expert saw in her gestures and intonations a concealment of the truth. In Bolkhovitina»s opinion, the accused in the double murder speaks in a way to simply form an image of a good person who was drawn into the crime for the viewers.

«She carefully asked what sums I had»: about Svetlana Metreveli

During a trip to Georgia, Ekaterina Tarkhova met a cosmetologist named Magda through her friend.

— When I had another acute situation, I called my friend and said that we [in the family] were having serious conflicts, and I just couldn«t regulate them no matter how I tried—the rift in the family was growing. And she told me then: »Call Magda, she«ll give you advice, you can talk to her.» I called Magda, and she told me then that she had a wonderful sister [Svetlana Metreveli], to whom I could go with my child, live with her until everything at home settled down. I agreed to this and stayed at their house in Tbilisi for three or four months. My mom, of course, was looking for me. My mom wrote me sad SMS messages. What didn«t she write to me, — Tarkhova told journalists.

According to Ekaterina, she tried not to respond to messages from her mother.

— I tried to recover from the shock that was happening at home. I breathed out when I arrived there. And we [with Metreveli] started getting acquainted. As I understood, she had been in business for a long time, then something happened to her, and her sister asked her to look after the children. When I was first preparing to go to Natella, Magda asked me a question that I didn«t attach much importance to. She quite carefully asked what sum of money I had. I asked why she was interested in my finances, to which Magda didn»t answer and closed the topic quite quickly. And of course, she didn«t bring up conversations about finances again. I lived for free, although I had my own money, not a lot, but my ex-husband gave me quite nice gifts and I had a small capital of my own, — stated Tarkhova.

Ekaterina denies that she fully trusted Metreveli.

— I can«t say that I saw a mom in her. I saw an interesting interlocutor in her, an adult with whom I could share my life situations. We just had a dialogue, that»s all. And with my mom, I always had more of a monologue. During my communication with Natella, I learned not to fall for my mom«s provocations and started understanding how to stand up for myself and my son. But I couldn»t imagine that the independent life that Natella tried to show me was far from honey. And that what happened could happen. I couldn«t even assume that Natella had a criminal past and that she was also accused of murder, just like her mom. I hadn»t heard anything like that, — said Tarkhova in an interview with correspondents from the channel «Russia 1».

Everything known about the murder of the former Samara mayor and his wife has been compiled by the 63.RU editorial team into one topic. Here you can find details of the high-profile case and learn exclusive investigation details.