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Bashkortostan police deny illegal actions

Also, the mass media claimed Sharafutdinov, in violation of the law, is the owner of the Criminalny Spektr media outlet

UFA, April 4 (Itar-Tass) — The interior department of Bashkortostan has denied the reports about illegal actions by deputy interior minister for personnel Ruslan Sharafutdinov.

"I fully trust my deputy, otherwise he would not be sitting next to me at this news conference," the republic's police chief Mikhail Zakomaldin told reporters on Wednesday.

"Pre-investigation checks carried out by investigative bodies are routine practice in their work, and this does not imply that a criminal case will be opened by their results," Zakomaldin said, "if the facts cited by Russian television journalists were true prosecutors and investigators would have checked them the moment they allegedly occurred."

The Investigative Committee began a pre-investigation check after Russia-1 Channel, in its daily crime report program, said Bashkortostan residents had complained to SK chairman Alexander Bastrykin about illegal actions and inaction by law-enforcement bodies.

Specifically, the program mentioned Ruslan Sharafutdinov, who continued his successful career despite violations.

Some media outlets said Sharafutdinov had staged a fight in a cafe 12 years ago, and was involved in a drunk driving accident.

Also, the mass media claimed Sharafutdinov, in violation of the law, is the owner of the Criminalny Spektr media outlet.

In Zakomaldin's opinion, these reports are an attempt to put pressure on the probe conducted against the Bashkortostan state-owned television and radio broadcasting company.

Zakomaldin said lawyers of the republic's police department were drawing a statement to launch a legal action to defend the honor and dignity of Bashkortostan interior department.

Himself, Sharafutdinov said "all the facts and information about me and the department related in the program, do not correspond to reality or are grossly distorted."

The Kriminalny Spektr publisher is the Bashkortostan interior department, which inspecting bodies have repeatedly noted, Sharafutdinov said.