Skinheads admit in court to killing 20

MOSCOW, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Leaders of a Russian skinhead gang charged with hate crimes admitted in Moscow City Court to committing 20 racially motivated murders and attempting 12 more.

Artur Ryno and Pavel Skachevsky went on trial with seven others Wednesday for allegedly carrying out a series of race-inspired murders and other crimes in Moscow, the Moscow Times reported Thursday.

Although the proceedings are closed to the public, Interfax news agency reported Ryno and Skachevsky "fully admitted their guilt."

Prosecutors charge Ryno, Skachevsky and the other defendants ranging in age between 15 and 22 went on their crime spree from August 2006 through October 2007.