News

On 25 October, about 4 AM, in Chita unidentified people smashed the window and threw several Molotov cocktails in the building of the Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee in Trans-Baikal Territory. The local investigating bodies have launched a criminal case into signs of crimes under part 2 of article 167 of the RF Penal Code (deliberate destruction of another’s property by arson) and part 2 of article 213 (hooliganism by a group of people in a preliminary conspiracy).

The investigators of the Directorate were alarmed immediately, all valuables, criminal files and other documents were evacuated from the building. The police officers, who were guarding the building, contained and then put out the fire. One of the back offices was slightly damaged, but criminal files and documents remained untouched. Several fire brigades are working at the scene examining the building to prevent another blaze.

An investigating group is working at the scene. Several investigators are examining the place where the fire started, criminologists have examined the scene and seized fragments of Molotov cocktail bottles. Forensic analyses have been fixed. The investigators are considering several versions of the crime, including an attempt to affect the progress of criminal investigations linked to banditry and murders.

At the same time other unidentified perpetrators tried to set fire to the buildings of Ingodinsky district police department and non-departmental security in the same way. The police buildings also received only slight damages. In case the investigators find that the three crimes were committed by one group of people, the criminal cases will be filed into one criminal proceeding.

The investigators are identifying the persons involved in the arson of the Investigations Directorate. CCTV videos have been seized and are being studied. The Investigations Directorate has made public a record from one of the CCTV cameras showing one of the perpetrators. The investigators have addressed the citizens of the territorial center asking to help in identifying the criminals. The police officers have been charged with a number of search and investigating operations in order to identify the suspects. The investigation is ongoing.