Police 'human shield' act condemned

12 March 2010

Police in Moscow have used motorists on the road as a "human shield" to attempt catching a fleeing armed criminal, it has been revealed.

The men in uniform ordered drivers of vehicles parked along the city's main orbital road last Friday to form a roadblock as they chased the fugitive, who managed to flee despite the precautions.

Rights activists criticised the action, saying it could have been dangerous to the drivers who were unarmed and helpless.

Those who participated in the operation said there were no human casualties, but some of the cars were damaged.

One witness said the suspect was armed and considered dangerous.

A driver, Stanislav Sutyagin said in a video postedon YouTube: "We could have been killed. What if the criminal stopped? We could have come under fire... Is it really the case that our lives are worthless in the Russian state?"

This incident added to the growing dissatisfaction regarding police in the country.

Russia's Investigative Committee, under the Prosecutor General's Office, confirmed the incident, adding that action will be taken against the officers.

Local reports suggested that traffic policeman Alexander Kozlov, whose officers performed the roadblock operation, had been fired by Moscow police chief Vladimir Kolokoltsev.

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