Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev said on Wednesday that it was unacceptable for traffic police to force owners of private cars to use their vehicles to form roadblocks.

On March 5, police stopped several cars on the Moscow Outer Ring Road (MKAD) and ordered the drivers to block the five-lane highway in a bid to stop an Audi they had been chasing. The driver of the Audi eventually rammed the cars blocking the highway and escaped. Police continued their pursuit.

The Audi driver and passengers were detained on Wednesday.

"It is unacceptable to use so-called 'living shields'" Nurgaliyev said. "These people do not know what is going on, what the problem is and what the consequences might be."

He also said police in charge of operations should consider "all the details."

Motorist Stanislav Sutyagin claimed after the incident that he was denied compensation for the damage to his car, let alone for endangerment to his life, on the grounds that "the suspects escaped."

However, Nurgaliyev said on Wednesday the chief of the traffic police unit which carried out the operation had been dismissed and also pledged that the owners of the three cars damaged in the operation would have their vehicles repaired and compensation paid.

This is not the first time Nurgaliyev has been forced to issue unusual statements over the behavior of the country's police.

The minister used his annual Police Day address last November to remind police chiefs that officers should point their weapons at criminals, and not aim them at law-abiding citizens. Shortly after this, he advised ordinary citizens to "give as good as they get" if they are attacked for no reason by officers.

The reputation of the Russian police force has declined dramatically in recent years. In just over 18 months, Russian police officers have been convicted or charged with burning a suspect to death, shooting sprees, a beheading, and rape.

MOSCOW, March 10 (RIA Novosti)