Law enforcement authorities in the Volgograd Region have opened a criminal case against two police officers from the town of Kamyshin, who beat up a suspect in police custody while trying to obtain a confession from him, regional police said Thursday.
The case against the officers was opened by the Investigative Committee's regional office on charges of exceeding authority based on the results of an internal investigation, police spokesperson Svetlana Smolyaninova said, Interfax reported.
On Oct. 9 a district police officer and a criminal investigator detained a person on suspicion of stealing building materials.
"Demanding a confession police officers had used physical force against the detained person, after which the suspect was hospitalized with two broken ribs," Smolyaninova said.
Both police officers, aged 24 and 25 years old, hold the rank of first lieutenant and have been suspended from active service pending the outcome of the investigation.
Their immediate superiors will also be reprimanded, the report said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.