One of Moscow's former top cops has been detained in connection with a deadly restaurant shootout, the Interfax news agency reported Friday.
Denis Romashkin, who previously headed the criminal investigation division in the city's district of Presnensky, has been taken into police custody in connection with a shooting that took place at Rochdelskaya Street in December 2015.
Two people died in the incident, which involved one of Moscow's most infamous crime bosses, Sharko Molodoy, Interfax reported. Romashkin, who was first arrested on Sept. 27, stands accused of abusing his police authority.
Romashkin is not the first Russian official to stand before the court in connection with the mobster, whose real name is Zakhary Kalashov. Russia's Federal Security Service arrested several high-ranking officials from the federal Investigative Committee in July on suspicion of receiving bribes connected to the crime lord.
The deputy head of the Moscow Investigative Committee, Denis Nikandrov, is accused of receiving a bribe worth $1 million, Russia's RBC news outlet reported. The committee's head of security, Mikhail Maksimenko, and his deputy Alexander Lamonov were also arrested.
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.
