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6 Russian convicts escape prison through secret tunnel, search begins
Prison guards in the western Lipetsk region became aware of their disappearance after a routine inspection.
MOSCOW: Russian authorities on Saturday announced a search operation after six convicts escaped prison through a secret tunnel.
Prison guards in the western Lipetsk region became aware of their disappearance after a routine inspection.
“In general regime penal colony No. 2, an underground tunnel was discovered during patrolling of the premises,” the Lipetsk region’s prison service said.
“Immediately a count of convicts was started, which revealed six inmates to be absent,” it added.
It did not reveal their identities, but said in a statement that the suspects were “from Central Asia.”
Temporary search posts have been set up while local law enforcement has been alerted and are looking for them.
“Measures are currently being taken to trace the escapees. The perpetrators will be brought to justice,” it said. The Lipetsk region is about 300 kilometers (190 miles) south of Moscow. Russia has one of the world’s largest prison populations but the number has fallen as prisoners are sent to fight in Ukraine. Escapes are relatively rare in Russia and those who manage to escape are often captured within a matter of days.
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