Polar bear cruelty case taken over by regional investigators in Russia

Inquiry into defence ministry chef filmed giving bear an explosive has been taken out of police hands due to 'lack of progress'

Regional investigators have taken over a criminal case against a Russian defence ministry contractor accused of tormenting a polar bear with an explosive, citing lack of progress by police.

"In connection with the bureaucratic delays " this criminal case has been " passed to the investigative organs for further investigation," the prosecutor general in the Chukotka region in Russia's far north-east said.