A Krasnoyarsk resident died at a police station where he was taken on suspicion of stealing a phone.
Police say he died while trying to escape through a window, but his family sees many inconsistencies in the case.
Photo: Courtesy of the deceased's family, Maria Antyusheva / NGS24.RU
On February 9, 2023, two police officers - Konstantin Bitinsh и Andy Motley — delivered to the police station Alexandra Sitnikova, who allegedly stole a phone from his friends. On the morning of February 10, Alexander's sister Alle They reported that his brother was dead. Investigators claim he tried to escape and jumped from a second-story window, but his sister is certain there are many inconsistencies in the case. Together with her, shed light on this matter. tried NGS24 journalists.
The police officers give conflicting accounts: one of them allegedly saw Sitnikov sitting in the hallway, and then he disappeared. Seeing the window open, he assumed Sitnikov had escaped. His sister suggests the opposite: her brother calmly left the police station after sitting there for several hours, buying cigarettes, and returning. He was recognized by clerks at nearby stores. Furthermore, the cameras that would have proven his escape weren't working that day.
Other cameras show Sitnikov returning, waiting again, and then leaving, where he encountered operative Pestroy, who roughly dragged him to the bench and handcuffed him. Pestroy then summoned Bitinsh, who first beat the man and then forced him into the duty room. Then Bitinsh spat at Sitnikov for some reason.
When Sitnikov is forced to go to another room, he's already so ill that he crawls there. Bitinsh forces him to continue up the stairs, forcing him to his feet. At 1:00 AM, the cameras last captured him alive; by 2:00 AM, he was already dead. An ambulance was called, but doctors ultimately only pronounced him dead.
The Investigative Committee for the Krasnoyarsk Territory opened two criminal cases: one against Bitinsh for kicking a detainee and one against him for causing the death of a person. Bitinsh had previously received a suspended sentence for abuse of office.
It took her sister a whole year to find a good lawyer. She hopes that publicity will help bring those responsible for her brother's death to justice; otherwise, she fears they will face too lenient a sentence.
Previously "NeMoscow" told about death in Makhachkala Kurban DolgatovaHe was brutally beaten at the police station, despite being brought there as a witness to someone else's conflict. NeMoscow, together with the victim's family, attempted to gather everything known about his death to date.