Police in Russia's Komi Republic investigate "Selfie with the Dead" competition

Police in Russia's Komi Republic are investigating the legal status of a group formed on Russian social networking site VKontakte (VK) dedicated to collecting selfies taken with dead bodies.

The decision followed local media coverage and 'subsequent negative public assessment of the competition", a police spokesperson in Komi told local media on Monday.

Group organizer Alfred Polyakov had earlier offered money in exchange for photographs posted on the group's page.

"The main condition [of entry] is respect for the dead. We will not consider photos which express disdain or disrespect," the group's home page claimed. "Your photo should be an expression of love for the deceased."

The page has been temporarily blocked by VK moderators on the grounds of "suspicious activity." Enditem