Three Russians have died in police custody, RIA-Novosti reported Thursday, citing unidentified law enforcement officials.

The men died “unexpectedly” in the regions of Amur, Kaluga and Tomsk on Wednesday, it said. The deaths are being investigated.

President Dmitry Medvedev last month took personal control of Russia’s biggest overhaul of law enforcement in 50 years, ordering the government to prepare amendments to existing legislation to strip the police of functions unrelated to fighting crime, raising pay for officers and cutting Interior Ministry staff.

(Bloomberg)