Moscow traffic police are investigating the complaint of a driver who said police used him and his car as a human shield in an unsuccessful attempt to catch a suspect last week.
City police have confirmed that they used the cars of several Moscow drivers to try to block the Moscow Ring Road to catch a suspected petty thief, Vedomosti reported Tuesday.
One driver, Sergei Sutyagin, said on Ekho Moskvy radio and in a YouTube video that a police officer pulled him over at about 5:30 a.m. March 5 and ordered him and several other drivers to block the road with their cars.
He said he was told to remain in his car.
Minutes later, a silver Audi slammed into his car and sped away, he said.
Sutyagin said the policeman told him that no compensation would be paid for the car, which he said was badly damaged, because the suspect had not been caught.
The traffic police are investigating the claim, spokeswomen Marina Vasilyeva told RIA-Novosti on Tuesday.
Moscow traffic police chief Sergei Kazantsev has taken the case under his personal control, Vedomosti reported.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.