GUS-KHRUSTALNY, Russia -- All top police officials in a town east of Moscow have been sacked after locals complained police were ignoring crimes, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.
The announcement followed a meeting today between Investigative Committee head Aleksandr Bastrykin and residents of Gus-Khrustalny in Vladimir Oblast, about 200 kilometers east of Moscow.
On December 6, the Prosecutor-General's Investigative Committee informed journalists that it had opened criminal cases against four Gus-Khrustalny policemen suspected of intentionally obstructing the investigation of numerous crimes, including assaults on local businessmen and arson attacks.
The investigations were launched following a special probe initiated by Prosecutor-General Yury Chaika, who received letters from Gus-Khrustalny residents complaining that local police ignore many crimes. Also as a result of that probe, investigations into 11 closed criminal cases regarding financial crimes and illegal drug trafficking have been reopened.
Bastrykin met today with 30 Gus-Khrustalny residents who complained that criminal groups control the town and the police take no action against them.
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