“Investigative bodies of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Astrakhan Region are conducting procedural checks into the deaths of three people as a result of poisoning with an unknown substance. Also, the investigative department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Astrakhan region initiated the transfer of materials from the criminal case initiated by the authorities Ministry of Internal Affairs on the fact of the distribution of a batch of synthetic drugs by a group of foreigners, to the investigative authorities of the Russian Investigative Committee for the most complete and comprehensive investigation,” the department reported, clarifying to TASS that the deaths of citizens are tentatively linked to cases of mass methadone poisoning in Astrakhan.