Russian police bust hospital morgue for selling bodies

Human remains were allegedly supplied in exchange for bribes to commercial firms for use in cosmetic and surgical experiments

Russian police have uncovered an illegal scheme involving the sale of human remains from a hospital morgue in St. Petersburg, authorities have announced.

A hospital official provided human remains to commercial organizations for use in training cosmetic, surgical, and dental specialists, Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk said on Friday.

“In exchange for money, a hospital official assisted in the removal of body parts from deceased individuals, mostly those without relatives,” Volk wrote on Telegram. In some cases, the organs and tissues were also allegedly used in paid educational courses, where participants could observe or perform procedures.

The head of the pathology department at Alexandrovskaya Hospital and the founder of a private company producing anatomical models were detained on suspicion of official misconduct and corruption, according to the Russian Investigative Committee. Investigators said the businessman persuaded and bribed the hospital official to supply unclaimed bodies for the removal of internal organs, bones, and other parts, with the pathologist reportedly receiving at least 500,000 rubles ($6,500) per month.

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Searches at the suspects’ workplaces led to the seizure of human remains, the committee said. A full investigation is underway to establish all the circumstances to decide on confinement measures for the arrested individuals.

The scheme reportedly involved primarily bodies of people who had no known relatives or led socially isolated lives. In some cases, representatives of commercial firms were allegedly allowed to conduct autopsies in the hospital morgue without proper documentation.