MOSCOW, Aug 6 (Interfax) - Five inmates have escaped from a detention facility in the Moscow region, using a wrench to unscrew door locks, Olga Vrady from the regional branch of the Russian Investigative Committee said, adding that a criminal case was pending.
"Five persons unscrewed door locks, using items prohibited in a detention facility, presumably, a wrench, and escaped from the detention facility of the Istra district police department at about 4 a.m.," Vrady told reporters on Friday.
Investigators and forensic technicians are at work on the incident scene, and a criminal case is pending, she said.
"The escapees are Alexander Mavridi, who is accused of killing a businessman and depriving a Moscow lawyer of freedom, and four persons facing criminal prosecution on theft counts," Vrady said.
The Moscow regional prosecution service has launched an inquiry into the escape.
"The inquiry, to be carried out by the Istra city prosecution service, aims to establish the causes and circumstances of the incident and to evaluate the conduct of relevant officials," the regional prosecution service said.