Director of the Sormovsky cemetery Mikhail Skobelev applied to INGO “Committee Against Torture” a year ago.
According to Mr. Skobelev, on Police Day he was beaten by unknown people in a parking lot. Later, when the Internal Security Directorate of the Nizhny Novgorod Regional Directorate of the Interior was performing a check, Skobelev recognized the perpetrators, those were officers of the Sormovsky District Economic Crimes Department.
According to the report of the Internal Security Directorate, deputy head of the Sormovsky police department Kuznetsov and head of the Sormovsky District Economic Crimes Department Erofeyev were held disciplinary liable. The Internal Security Directorate found out that they had tried to cover up the crime.
The outcome of the check carried out by the ISD did not arouse any interest in investigator Chirkunova from the Sormovsky District Investigation Committee who issued three refusals to instigate criminal proceedings which were later cancelled following ICAT’s appeals. While admitting that Skobelev had injuries, investigator Chirkunova has failed to find the material element of the offense.
It is strange that higher-standing investigators have not reacted adequately to Chirkunova’s omissions.