Bastrykin discusses probes into crimes against Russian military in Syria in Damascus
MOSCOW. July 3 (Interfax) - Investigative Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin has visited Syria to discuss the progress of investigations into terrorism-related crimes and crimes committed against the Russian military with Syrian high-ranking state officials.
"Investigative Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin visited the Syrian Arab Republic on Monday, where he met the head of the Syrian National Security Bureau, Division Gen. Ali Mamlouk, and Syrian Justice Minister Hisham Al-Shaar," Investigative Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko told Interfax.
The parties "discussed the current level of cooperation between the Investigative Committee and Syrian law enforcement agencies in probing terrorism-related crimes and crimes committed against the Russian military and the infrastructure of military facilities deployed in this country," she said.
The Syrian side said that the level of interaction between the two countries' agencies had markedly increased. "Our Syrian colleagues also said that although more and more territories are being liberated from terrorists, there is still a need for further enhancement and deepening of legal cooperation, and especially for uncovering evidence of crimes and their subsequent presentation to international criminal courts," she said.
Bastrykin visited Russia's Hmeimim Airbase, the Investigative Committee spokeswoman added. "Upon arriving at the Hmeimim Airbase, Alexander Bastrykin held an urgent meeting, at which he learned about progress in and findings of investigations into terrorism cases overseen by Investigative Committee investigators and crimes against Russian servicemen performing their military duty in the Syrian Republic," Petrenko said.