In St. Petersburg, a disturbing incident unfolded when police officers, who were escorting or protecting a group tied to organized crime, ended up detained after a chaotic confrontation that included a fight, gunfire, and a chase involving a stolen official vehicle. Reports from Life with the Shot Telegram channel provided the initial outline of the events that evening in the Vyborg district.
According to that channel, the sequence began on the night of November 21 when members of an organized criminal group allegedly approached two residents of St. Petersburg under a false pretext and attempted to lure them into a meeting at a local cafe. Once there, the attackers assaulted the victims and stole approximately 400,000 rubles from them. The alleged deceit and violence underscored a brazen attempt to obtain money through intimidation and coercion in a public space.
Responding to the clash, law enforcement officers arrived at the scene in a service UAZ. The victims reported to investigators that the police had surrounded the alleged victims rather than the attackers and that members of the criminal group actively assisted the police during this confrontation. As the beatings continued, one of the assaulted men, believing the officers might be counterfeit or compromised, attempted to bolt from the scene by moving toward the driver’s seat of the police vehicle.
What followed was a rapid and tumultuous pursuit. Officers and suspects exchanged the usual traffic dynamics of a high-speed chase, with the assailants reportedly firing at the pursuing UAZ using traumatic weapons. The pursuit stretched for roughly an hour, during which the stolen vehicle and others linked to the group were intercepted in a multi-vehicle stop. The suspects were finally detained and escorted to the regional department of internal affairs in Vyborg. The wounded victims were informed that they could pursue legal action for hooliganism, while the suspects faced the practical prospect of making amends for the damage to the UAZ before any disposition that might lead to release could be considered.
Following the incident, the regional Department of Homeland Security and the Investigative Committee took a keen interest in the events. Later confirmations from the police department indicated that two employees from the 59th precinct of the city’s interior ministry unit were detained on suspicion of providing protection to an organized crime group and of engaging with a large number of gang members. The matter has since prompted internal reviews and further investigations to determine the extent of any misconduct and the proper accountability for the actions of the officers involved.
In related regional traffic enforcement coverage, reports noted that a different city context had previous issues with corruption involving traffic police, highlighting a broader pattern of challenges in maintaining integrity across law enforcement agencies in Russia. These connected threads illustrate the ongoing public concern about how authorities respond to organized crime networks and how misconduct by officers can complicate investigations and erode public trust. The overarching aim remains clear: to ensure accountability, uphold rule of law, and restore confidence in police institutions across major Russian cities.
As the investigation continues, authorities are expected to publish findings that differentiate genuine policing actions from potential collusion with criminal elements. The public awaits clarification on how the involved officers conducted themselves, what measures were taken to protect victims, and what steps will be taken to prevent repetition of similar incidents in the future. The case serves as a stark reminder that the line between enforcement and complicity must be constantly guarded and openly scrutinized by the institutions sworn to uphold safety and justice.