In Nalchik, case on abuse of power, committed by police officer, under investigation

The Investigatory Division of the city of Nalchik of the Investigatory Department of the Investigatory Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) in Kabardino-Balkaria takes measures to identify a police officer, who on January 11, 2012, destroyed the documents of a lawyer, defending a detainee.

The incident occurred when lawyer Temirzhanov arrived at the police station to represent interests of the detained local resident.

Investigators revealed that on January 10, 2012, in the course of investigatory work in Nalchik, officers from the Centre to Combat Extremism of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Kabardino-Balkaria stopped for inspection an AZ-2107 car, driven by a resident of the village of Khasanya. The policemen found in the driver's inner pocket 30 metal objects, similar to rounds of 5.45 mm calibre, and under the driver's seat they found a package with substance of plant origin.

In that regard, the policemen brought the car driver to the Department of the Russian MIA in the city of Nalchik, on the other day, the lawyer Temirzhanov came there to defend the detainee and presented a warrant for the defence of the detainee at the office of the investigator of the First Division of the Investigatory Department of the MIA's Department. At that time, an officer from the Centre to Combat Extremism entered the office, took from the investigator's desktop the agreement and the warrant of the lawyer Temirzhanov, tore them and put into his pocket.

At present, a criminal case is instituted against yet unidentified police officer under Part 1 of Article 286 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (abuse of power). This was stated by the message posted on the ICRF's website.

Under the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, the officer, guilty of committing that crime, faces a fine of to up to 80,000 roubles or amounting to the salary or other income of a convicted person for the period of up to 6 months, or deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or practice certain activities for a period of up to 5 years, or arrest for a period of 4-6 months, or imprisonment for a period of up to 4 years.