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The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia held a reception of citizens on the investigation of criminal cases by the Vsevolozhsk Investigative Department

The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia Alexander Ivanovich Bastrykin held a video-conference reception of citizens. The event was attended by First Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia Eduard Valeryevich Kaburneyev, Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia Sergey Nikolaevich Goryainov, heads of departments of the Central Office of the Committee. The head of the Investigative Committee of Russia was approached by applicants on issues of verification and investigation of criminal cases that are investigated by the Vsevolozhsky Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Leningrad region. In this regard, S. T. Sazin, Head of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Leningrad region, A. V. Demchenko, Head of the Department for Vsevolozhsk, and employees of this department were also invited to the reception of citizens.

The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia noted that he had carefully studied the performance of this investigative unit and analyzed the complaints received in his name by the Central Office of the Committee.

"I do not want to be unsubstantiated, so it was decided to hold such a targeted reception of citizens to study the situation in the department, the state of criminal cases and inspection materials, to listen to the wishes on the work of the department and questions of people," - the head of the Committee said.

Thus, the mother and sister of a man who died in a private home in the Leningrad region were received again. This criminal case was previously transferred to the central office of the Investigative Committee of Russia by order of A.I. Bastrykin, and investigator V.V. Megrelov was subjected to official and procedural checks due to improper performance of his duties during the investigation of the criminal case. Today, the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia announced his decisions to the victims, including the appointment of additional and repeated expert examinations, as well as told about further actions in this criminal case.

Next, the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia was approached by the mother of a man whose body was found in a burnt-out car in the Peri-2 SNT in February 2019. According to the complainant, the criminal case was not opened until two years after the tragedy. The investigator V.V. Megrelov ignored this incident and did not assess the injuries on the man's body. The applicants also disagreed with the conclusions of the two forensic medical examinations. The head of the Investigative Committee of Russia heard a report by the head of the department, A.V. Demchenko. However, he was unable to explain his actions and the reasons for the red tape in this criminal case. Alexander Bastrykin instructed to transfer this criminal case to the Leningrad Regional Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia and to involve employees of the Main Forensic Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia (Forensics Center) and the Forensic Expert Center of the Investigative Committee of Russia.

Then the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia listened to the applicants whose apartment was damaged in a house explosion in Vsevolozhsk in November 2020. In their opinion, no one is interested in their fate and tragedy. The criminal case was initiated by the Vsevolozhsk Investigative Department under Article 168 (destruction or damage to property by negligence), but then by decision of the supervisory authority was transferred to the police. However, the spouses believe that it was necessary to make a legal assessment of the actions of officials charged with the restoration of the house and the rights of affected citizens. However, that wasn't done. Alexander Bastrykin, after hearing the report of the investigator and the head of the Investigative Division in Vsevolozhsk, was also dissatisfied with their inaction and indifference to the fact that a family with two young children were left without a roof over their heads. S.T. Sazin was instructed to petition the supervisory authority to withdraw the criminal case from the Interior Ministry and to take measures to restore the property rights of the victims, who also complained about the lack of any contact with the staff of the Vsevolozhsk Investigative Department.

Another resident of the Vsevolozhsk district does not agree with the version of the investigation about the suicide of his nephew in November 2019. The man's body was found with a gunshot wound. The relatives are certain that a murder was committed. The visitor complained that the staff of Vsevolozhsk Investigative Department several times refused to initiate criminal proceedings. In this regard, A. I. Bastrykin demanded that the head of the investigation department A. V. Demchenko and his deputies explain the reasons for this decision. However, again, no substantiated report was received from his subordinates, so this criminal case was assigned to the investigators of the Leningrad Regional Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia. The uncle of the deceased expressed his gratitude to A. I. Bastrykin for organizing such a personal reception, because, according to him, the residents of Vsevolozhsk district of Leningrad region have many questions to the work of the investigative department.

Mother of a 6-year-old boy who suffered a fall into a manhole also expressed disagreement with the actions of investigators who did not timely initiate criminal proceedings under Paragraph C of Part 2 of Article 238 of the Criminal Code (providing services that do not meet safety requirements). On the instructions of Bastrykin, the criminal case was transferred to the apparatus of the Investigative Committee of Russia in the Leningrad Region.

The next complainant's husband lost his hand as a result of a work-related injury in October 2019, but criminal charges were initially denied. It was not until October 18, 2021 that a criminal case was opened under Part 1 of Article 143 of the Criminal Code (violation of occupational safety requirements). At the same time, the complainants expressed active indignation at the inaction of the staff of the Vsevolozhsk Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia. Having heard the report on the criminal case, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia noted serious shortcomings. Thus, there was no visit to the enterprise where the tragedy took place and no timely forensic medical examination was appointed. In addition, the complainants were indignant that no one contacted them for a long time and did not inform them about the actions taken. The probe was referred to the Leningrad Regional Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for further investigation.

A mother from St. Petersburg with many children complained, like the previous applicants, about the indifferent attitude of the Vsevolozhsk investigators during the investigation of the criminal case of the disappearance of her minor son. The boy left home in March 2021, his body was found in a wooded area of Vsevolozhsk district of Leningrad region. The mother is sure that her son was murdered, but according to her, investigator V. V. Megrelov, who was initially in charge of the criminal case, considered only the version of the accident, ignoring her arguments and motions. The investigation into the case raised many questions from the entire leadership of the Investigative Committee of Russia, the Central Office of the Investigative Committee of Russia in the Leningrad region was instructed to carefully examine all versions, and forensic experts of the Investigative Committee of Russia were instructed to assist in the investigation.

Summing up the results of personal reception, A.I. Bastrykin noted the overall poor performance of the Vsevolozhsk investigative department, including the number of cases completed and sent to court. Questions were also raised by the fact that, despite the large territory of the district and its dense population, the Vsevolozhsk investigative department is still not fully staffed with full-time employees. The head of the investigative department, A.V. Demchenko, was unable to give an explanation about the reasons for this situation.

The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia promised all applicants to hold a second appointment if necessary. The investigative department of Vsevolozhsk continues service inspection, the results of which will promote a number of management and personnel decisions.