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The Investigative Committee held today a memorial service in honor of Yury Ivanovich Lekanov, Lieutenant General of Justice, Founder of the Forensic Service of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Leading Expert under the Chairman of the IC of Russia, Presidium Member of the National Association of the Investigation Veteran Organizations “Union of Investigation Veterans,” Chairman of the Trade Union of the IC of Russia. His friends and family, senior staff of the IC of Russia, representatives of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, of veteran movement of the investigative authorities, Yury Ivanovich’s students and followers, his colleagues came to say good-bye to the legendary officer.

The mourning ceremony was attended by Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Alexander Ivanovich Bastrykin. In his eulogy, he said that “we lay to rest a true legend of investigation and forensics. He was the person of duty, honor, who, in the hour of need, could encourage, teach, direct. Yury Ivanovich was a father of the Investigative Committee. Always smiling, cheerful, confident of our victory, he accurately assessed the situation. He contributed to development of the committee not only with his effective investigations, but also innovative ideas.”

Chairman of the IC of Russia stressed that Yury Ivanovich was actively engaged in public work and got to the bottom of every employee’s problems, having created an effective trade union within the committee.

All present mentioned that Yury Ivanovich made a real breakthrough in forensics. He created a powerful forensic service literally from scratch, which by right earned trust and authority and became a true asset for investigators. Thanks to his professional instincts, open-mindedness and sharp thinking, Yury Ivanovich saw things two steps ahead. He literally intertwined influences of the technological advances and glorious traditions of the Soviet and Russian investigation.

A. I. Sazonov, Acting Head of the Main Forensic Department (Forensic Center) of the IC of Russia, said that Yury Ivanovich had created a legendary forensic brotherhood, a team of like-minded individuals, who perform their official duties honorably. Methods developed by Y. I. Lekanov helped investigators solve crimes committed many years and decades ago.

Investigation veterans praised support and help in all life turmoil that Y. I. Lekanov offered. His colleagues also mentioned such unique personal qualities of Yury Ivanovich, as incredible optimism and love for life. They cited passages, which had become valedictions for many of his friends and students: “after the heaviest rain still comes the sun,” “you can be a good investigator, forensic specialist, expert, but above all you must be a decent man.” According to them, Yury Ivanovich strictly abode by these postulates.

Yury Ivanovich was an educated, scholarly person. He always tried to keep up with the times and taught the younger generation to treat objectives responsibly. That having been said, he still made time for creativity. Stories and verses he wrote about the work of investigators featuring irony and audacious sense of humor brightened the difficult everyday work of officers. Although Yury Ivanovich was very modest about his creative abilities, many generations loved his literary works, which scooped high literary awards.

In concluding the mourning ceremony, Yury Ivanovich’s friends read verses composed by the poet K. M. Simonov: “It isn’t true that friends don’t perish, But next to you they cease to be.” And this was emblematic, as the memory of Yury Ivanovich Lekanov will forever be in our hearts and the exhibition dedicated to him will take its rightful place at the museum of the Investigative Committee of Russia.