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Kopeisk prison chief detained on suspicion of exceeding authority

The SK opened five criminal cases over riots in the maximum security penitentiary in Kopeisk

MOSCOW, December 25 (Itar-Tass) — Director of the Kopeisk penitentiary Denis Mekhanov has been detained within the case of extortion of money from inmates, an official at the Investigative Committee told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

On November 24, a 500-strong group of inmates at penitentiary # 6 refused to obey the demands by the prison administration and insisted on easing the regulations. The regional SK department launched a pre-investigation check. The inmates demand was backed by their relatives who had come to the penitentiary to lend support. Eight special task force police were injured when breaking up the illegal rally, the authorities reported.

The SK opened five criminal cases over riots in the maximum security penitentiary in Kopeisk, Chelyabinsk region, and use of violence on special task force police, SK spokesman Vladimir Markin told Tass.

One criminal case was opened over extortion of money from inmates by prison personnel under threats of violence," the spokesman said.

The SK later searched the apartments of Kopeisk prison officials within the probe into the criminal case against them.