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The Investigative Committee has held today celebrations dedicated to the 70^th anniversary of senior major cases investigator under the Chairman of the Investigative Committee retired Major General of Justice Alexander Filin.

Mr. Filin served in investigative authorities between 1974 and 2017 and retired upon reaching the age limit. He investigated and referred to court complicated and large cases opened against officials of the Motor Transport Ministry and heads of the Moscow Region Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund; deputy prosecutor of Kuntsevo District, Moscow; in abuse of power by officials of the Moscow Police Department’s escort regiment and the Foreign Trade Ministry; in fraud committed by investigators of the Interior Ministry and by lawyers. Mr. Filin investigated 13 cases opened against 57 people charged with stealing gold from the Oka River Area Nonferrous Metal Plant. Since 2009 he headed an investigative team looking into stealing of budget funds in Moscow Region committed by an organized group headed by former finance minister Aleksei Kuznetsov. Some of those involved in stealing of 15 billion rubles have been convicted by now.

Speaking at the festivity, Mr. Bastrykin thanked Mr. Filin for his many-year work noting: “In his Moral Basics of Criminal Proceedings great jurist Anatoly Koni says that except norms of material and procedural law there are moral aspects of criminal proceedings. Mr. Filin combines both high moral criteria and professionalism. Over my years as the head of the Investigative Committee I have never heard anybody say anything in reproach to you, but only high praise of your work. They say that investigator is not just a profession, but a lifestyle of a person who dedicated themselves to investigation. No mystery story will ever match Mr. Filin’s service and life which are an example for the younger generation, for those who has come and will come to the Investigative Committee not for honors or rewards, but to do difficult, daily, highly intellectual job to protect of law and order and for triumph of justice. Mr. Filin’s exceptional modesty and his personal qualities emphasize the great work he has done over decades of investigative practice.”

Mr. Filin’s colleagues – both those who worked with him before and in the modern-day Investigative Committee congratulated him as well. All of them noted that in any situation Mr. Filin remained a calm, self-possessed, civilized and decent man. They spoke about him as an incorruptible, professional and principled investigator who always displayed great courage: both apprehending a dangerous criminal and making important decisions during investigations against high-rank officials.

A student of the Moscow Academy expressed a general opinion of the younger generation: “Looking at investigator Filin, we get convinced once again that we have made a right choice. Mr. Filin is an example to look up to in life and profession.”

To stay many years in the profession and to retain human soul, an investigator should have a hobby. Mr. Filin’s hobby is to go rafting on mountain rivers on kayaks, rafts and catamarans. His team has taken almost every tourist itinerary in the country. “It’s beauty and richness of our nature that helps me restore after mentally intensive and difficult intellectual work,” Mr. Filin said and added that “now when I have all that experience, I can say that being an investigator is the most artistic, interesting and needed profession. I am thankful that I have met decent and intelligent people.”

Expressing general opinion of all in attendance, Mr. Bastrykin offered Mr. Filin to join the Union of Investigation Veterans, an NGO, to not sever ties with the Investigative Committee and provide advice to investigators, to appear in mass media and publish his memoirs. Mr. Bastrykin expressed his confidence that Mr. Filin’s extensive professional experience would help raise a new generation of investigators.

By the order of the Russian president Mr. Filin was awarded the Order of Honor handed to him by Mr. Bastrykin.

Official spokesperson for the RF Investigative Committee                                                                          S.L. Petrenko