27 Nov 2012 13:09

Criminal cases opened over disturbances at penitentiary in Chelyabinsk region

MOSCOW. Nov 27 (Interfax) - The Chelyabinsk department of the Russian Investigative Committee has opened criminal cases over the abuse of authority and violence against police officers in the disturbances at the high-security penitentiary in Kopeisk, Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin told Interfax on Tuesday.

"A criminal case has been opened under Article 286 of the Russian Criminal Code (the abuse of authority) due to claims that penitentiary employees are extorting inmates," he said.

Additionally, five criminal cases were opened under Article 318 of the Russian Criminal Code (violence against police officers) over the injuries of OMON servicemen attacked by civilians outside the penitentiary, he said.