Today the Kstovo Investigation Department (Nizhny Novgorod region) has started criminal proceedings on the allegations of 17-year old Nikita Kaftasyev’s abuse in the Kstovo Directorate of Internal Affairs.  

The case is instigated in respect of the commander of the patrol and point-duty service company of the Kstovo district Directorate of Internal Affairs suspected of committing a crime under cl. «а» p. 3 art.286 of the RF Criminal Code (actions of an official clearly exceeding his powers incurring gross violation of human rights and legal interests committed with the use of violence).

Nikita Kaftasyev’s mother applied to the Interregional Committee Against Torture claiming that in the evening on August 31 her son and his friend Roman Vaulin had been detained by the police in the street for no reason. According to the victim’s mother, and according to Nikita and his friend, they were first beaten at the police station and later taken to the District Directorate of Internal Affairs where the beatings continued. The teens were beaten and tortured, in particular, Nikita was kicked in the groin, besides that, one of the officers in the rank of lieutenant started choking him. Nikita claims that during the battery there were several officers present in the room. In the morning Nikita, wearing blood-stained clothes, was taken home by children’s officer of the Kstovo district Directorate of Internal Affairs Natalia Ryabinina. Nikita’s mother claims that Ms. Ryabinina demanded that the boy’s relatives should write a note stating that they had no claims against the police, but they refused to do so.  

Nikita Kaftasyev was immediately taken to hospital and had an urgent surgery. At present the boy is being treated in the urology department of the Kstovo Central Hospital.

The teenager’s mother applied to the ICAT and investigation authorities which instigated criminal proceedings after a 20-day check.

The Interregional Committee Against Torture will ensure that this case of police abuse is thoroughly and effectively investigated, the perpetrators are identified and prosecuted.