Prison break: Six inmates escape Russian penal colony; four reportedly from Uzbekistan

Six inmates, including four reportedly from Uzbekistan, have escaped from a penal colony in Russia’s Lipetsk region, according to regional governor Igor Artamonov. The escape occurred from Penal Colony No. 2, prompting a full-scale search operation involving several Russian law enforcement agencies, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Security Service (FSB), and the National Guard.

Photo: AP

In his Telegram post, Governor Artamonov confirmed that all available emergency services had been mobilized to locate the escapees. Initial investigations by the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) revealed an underground tunnel within the prison grounds. Upon counting the inmates, officials discovered six were missing.

While FSIN’s website did not specify the prisoners’ names, the service confirmed they were all from Central Asia. Governor Artamonov later announced that two of the fugitives had been apprehended in the neighboring Tambov region, and the search continues for the remaining four inmates.

A criminal investigation has been launched against prison officials, who are accused of negligence leading to the inmates’ escape.

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