Russia"s top investigator voiced alarming...

"Over the past few years, the number of crimes committed against children has been on the increase," Alexander Bastrykin, who heads the Investigation Committee at the Russian Prosecutor General"s Office, said.

"In 2002, over 40,000 crimes were committed against children, including over 5,000 cases involving sexual violence. In 2009, over 105,000 crimes against children were registered," he said.

Bastrykin held a working meeting with Russia"s newly appointed ombudsman for children"s rights, Pavel Astakhov.

The two officials agreed to maintain close cooperation among all departments concerned and exchange information more rapidly.

Astakhov said a free hot-line would soon be established in Russia to fight crime against children.

"There have been many cases in Russia when children were beaten or raped, actually in front of the eyes of my acquaintances and neighbors, and everybody saw that but passed by indifferently and did not even know where to address

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