16 June 2004 02:01
Rising rate of unsolved crimes worries human rights ombudsman
MOSCOW. June 16 (Interfax) - Russian Human Rights Commissioner Vladimir Lukin has expressed concern over the rising
rate of unsolved crimes in Russia and complaints against the law enforcement agencies' actions in relation to
detained suspects.
About 30% of all complaints filed with the human rights commissioner's office concern the activity of the
police, Lukin said at a press conference in Moscow on Wednesday.
Citing information from the Interior Ministry and the Prosecutor General's Office, Lukin said the number of
unsolved crimes rose 25% from 2002 to 2003 to over 1.1 million. "A total of 43.3% of crimes were not solved last
year," Lukin said.
The ombudsman noted that over 400,000 unsolved crimes fall into the category of serious and especially serious crime.
In particular, 6,694 premeditated murders went unsolved in 2003, Lukin said.
Commenting on the complaints against the police, Lukin said they were mainly related to unlawful detentions and
unlawful searches. "The detainees are often subjected to beating and even torture - let's call it what it
is," he said.
At the same time, Lukin admitted that "there is a certain desire to cooperate, to understand the situation, and
to do something to improve it on the part of the Interior Ministry."
He said his office has received over 20,000 complaints from Russian individuals this year. [RU EUROPE ASIA EEU EMRG
LAW CRIM POL] va tj
[Interfax] |
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