Iran Police Chief To Visit Russia For Expanding Cooperation

Iran’s infamous police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan will visit Russia to enhance cooperation between law enforcement entities of the two countries.

Iran’s Police Information Center announced on Monday that the brigadier general will meet his Russian counterparts to discuss "a range of issues."

A memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation in combating terrorism, human trafficking, and narcotics will be signed during his trip, Iranian local media reported.

Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei appointed Ahmadreza Radan as Iran's police chief in January after four months of popular anti-regime protests.

With Radan's track record as the heavy-handed former police chief of Greater Tehran, Kordestan and Sistan-Baluchistan provinces the appointment was immediately questioned by many Iranians on social media and by foreign-based Persian media.

Most of Radan's ill reputation dates back to his role as police chief during the post-election unrest in 2009 and the performance of his men at the Kahrizak detention center where several young protesters including children of some state officials were killed as a result of police brutality.

Radan's men were also seen in police vehicles running over protesters in the streets of Tehran on several occasions in 2009 and 2010. There is also a famous audio recording posted on social media in which Radan is ordering his men in Tehran to shoot anyone they can among protesters.

Radan was sanctioned for his human rights violations by the United States as early as 2010 and has been blacklisted by the European Union.