Criminals in Russia in arrests are treated worser than dirt, just look at these videos on youtube. They usually get brutally dragged to the ground, forced with their faces in the asphalt or mud or even slammed with their head against a cars hood. I've even seen how a guy got dragged with his face on the asphalt, damn. When it comes to Russia, police is brutal there agains the criminals.
Well not that I dislike or admire criminals, but in ex-USSR states the majority of criminals have turned to this lifestyle just because they had no other chance to survive in the 90's.
I agree, many are treated like that, but not the crime lords. The police are afraid to do something to them as far as I know, they prefer beating their underlings, while the big criminal businessmen are usually treated with hypocritical deference because of their connections. But I agree that small-time hoods are often forced in the life by the circumstances, that's really horrible.
