Nizhny Novgorod police department reportedly fires officer who attacked human rights activist

The police officer who attacked human rights activist Igor Kalyapin has been fired, according to Kalyapin’s colleague, Eva Merkacheva. Major Sergey Chernikovsky, who reportedly served in Nizhny Novgorod’s criminal investigations department, has problems controlling his behavior when intoxicated, other officers told Merkacheva, who says he is now under criminal investigation (though she didn’t specify the charges).

Igor Kalyapin, the founder of the Committee Against Torture, was attacked in his home on August 24 after a birthday celebration for a mutual friend. Kalyapin was later hospitalized with a concussion. Chernikovsky reportedly filed harassment charges against Kalyapin, following the incident.