MOSCOW, November 22 (RAPSI) – Philipp Budeykin, aka Philipp Fox, an administrator of a closed group on social network Vkontakte, was charged with inciting teenagers to commit suicide, Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement Tuesday.

Budeykin refused to testify, according to the statement.

A criminal case was opened in May after several Russian media outlets reported about so-called Groups of Death, numerous groups where young people were encouraged to kill themselves. 

Investigators claim that from December 2013 to May 2016 eight Groups of Death were registered on Vkontakte network.

Fifteen teenagers from various regions of Russia were members of these groups and committed suicide. 

Searches were conducted in ten regions of Russia.

About ten people testified in the case against Budeykin who was arrested on November 15. He remains in detention since his arrest.