Translated material
Police: media digest (January 24-30)
system
Minister of Internal Affairs Vladimir Kolokoltsev promised the capital police a comprehensive check
“Evening Moscow”, January 26 :
“The security forces summed up the operational and official activities of the capital’s internal affairs bodies over the past year. The Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, and the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Central Federal District, Alexander Beglov, came to 38 Petrovka Street on this day to evaluate the work of Moscow law enforcement officers. <…> ...Kolokoltsev also expressed a number of critical comments. He expressed concern about the manipulation of statistics and the increase in citizen complaints about the “non-acceptance” of applications. The Minister of Internal Affairs stated that any “extended” indicators are categorically unacceptable. In this regard, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs will conduct a comprehensive inspection of the Moscow headquarters. Minister Kolokoltsev also demanded to intensify police work in residential areas of the capital.”
“Speaking on Friday at the final board of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Moscow, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Vladimir Kolokoltsev again warned leaders against “any manipulation with statistics to create the appearance of a prosperous picture.” “Any “stick indicators” are categorically unacceptable; this issue is fundamental for me as the Minister of Internal Affairs, who is responsible for the activities of his subordinates both to the country’s leadership and to all citizens,” he said. Kolokoltsev emphasized that he would not allow any manager to replace actual work with the desired results on paper. “Inaccurate data does not allow us to correctly take into account changes in the operational situation and emerging threats, and respond to them in a timely manner. In 2013, in Moscow, almost twice as many citizen complaints were received about unlawful actions of employees when receiving and registering statements and other information about incidents,” - said the head of the department. He said that he signed an order to introduce a new assessment of the activities of regional divisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs based on a comprehensive analysis of the results of their work.”
...and it began
“The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs is currently conducting an extraordinary special inspection of the Moscow police, a source in the capital’s law enforcement agencies told RIA Novosti on Wednesday. “Today an inspection of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moscow began; the inspectors included representatives of the Main Directorate of Internal Security of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, the headquarters and the personnel service,” the agency’s interlocutor said. He clarified that a comprehensive inspection of the capital’s headquarters will also be carried out this year.”
Interview with the retired head of the MUR
“In the operational materials there are wiretaps of their conversations, where one says to the other: “It’s useless to ‘bring in’ Trushkin, he’s an honest scumbag.” <…> When planning events, we often encountered the fact that information was lost and a lot of things were disrupted.
— Did you sell information to criminals?
- Yes. Well, for example, the vehicle theft department ( 7th department of the Moscow Criminal Investigation Department - Ed. ) created big problems. And it’s no secret that police officers “protect” criminal groups. Not just any little thing, but serious organized crime groups that steal expensive foreign cars. I found out that not a single one of these criminal groups was detained in Moscow. There were no developments to ensure that all members of the organized crime group were imprisoned. The appearance of work was created and every little thing was delayed. The channels for cars leaving Moscow were not identified or blocked, but expensive foreign cars continue to be stolen. Based on the results of the department's inspection, I removed several people from the staff. However, then they were taken to the GUUR (Main Directorate of Criminal Investigation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - Ed. ) without any checks, and they continue to “fight” the hijackers. Although everyone knows that these employees have connections with criminal structures.
— What, in your opinion, is the level of corruption in the metropolitan police?
- Big. All prostitution is under police supervision. The same drug dens... <...> When I began to raise these issues, the district heads began to send local police officers to the service stations. Type: an inspection was carried out and a protocol was drawn up. I tell them: “Are you stunned? Carry out operational activities and find out when stolen cars arrive for dismantling and catch the thieves. Trace the entire chain, identify the auto stores where the stolen spare parts are delivered.” And they look at me like I’m crazy and say: “The district police didn’t find any violations.” How to understand this?
Another interesting point: I found out that in Moscow there are about 15 exchange offices where black cash is cashed out illegally. They carry whole bags of money. Clients of such offices are constantly robbed with shooting, beatings, and there have even been murders. Women with children and old people worked as observers for the criminals and reported on everything: who entered with the bag, etc. I ask the district heads: “Why can’t anyone cover these offices? Let’s remove them, the criminals will look for new points and, in the end, will be exposed.” And they answer: “There are no legal grounds to close these offices.” How is it - no? What about carrying out normal operational work? I wrote a letter to the head of the capital's central administration, but all cash-out offices are still working. I believe that there is corruption here. And I know that cashers offer half a million dollars a month for “don’t touch.”
changes
The head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Moscow Region was fired
“Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted the resignation of Nikolai Golovkin, head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Moscow Region. <…> Golovkin submitted his resignation on December 3, 2013. He explained that he was tired from work. At the same time, State Duma deputy Alexander Khinshtein indicated that shortly before submitting the petition, the central apparatus of the Ministry of Internal Affairs conducted an inspection of the Moscow region police. According to media reports, most management departments received “satisfactory” ratings, while some received “unsatisfactory” ratings. Former head of the Internal Affairs Directorate for the Central Administrative District of Moscow, Viktor Paukov, has been appointed as the new head of the Moscow Region Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He was born in 1959 in the Penza region, and has served in the Ministry of Internal Affairs since the 1980s. Paukov has headed the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Central Administrative District of Moscow since 2011.”
practice
The court rejected the complaint of former police chief Pugachev, who demanded reinstatement in service
“The Saratov Regional Court refused to satisfy the appeal of the former deputy head of the intermunicipal department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation “Pugachevsky” - police chief Dmitry Zelenkin, who demanded that he be reinstated in the service from where he was fired after the murder of local resident Ruslan Marzhanov, a court representative told RIA Novosti on Wednesday. <…> According to the local GUMVD, after the unrest, four officers of the Pugachevsky Ministry of Internal Affairs lost their positions, including Lieutenant Colonel Zelenkin and his deputy for the protection of public order, Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Belyaev. As the agency's interlocutor explained, both filed lawsuits to cancel orders of dismissal and reinstatement in service, but the Kirovsky District Court of Saratov refused to satisfy their demands. <…> As RIA Novosti clarified in the Kirov District Court, Zelenkin and Belyaev were dismissed with the wording “due to repeated violations of official discipline.” The plaintiffs considered the very fact of dismissal for negative reasons illegal, since the disciplinary sanction was allegedly applied to them for the misconduct of their subordinates, and the employer could issue them a warning about incomplete performance or demote them.”
In Nizhnekamsk they gave three years for violence against a police officer
Website of the Prosecutor's Office, January 24 :
“The Nizhnekamsk City Court considered a criminal case against 36-year-old Denis Turkin, accused of committing a crime under Part 2 of Art. 318 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (use of violence dangerous to health against a government official in connection with the performance of his official duties). At the court hearing, it was established that on November 1, 2013, at about 12 p.m., Turkin, driving a Lada-212140 car while intoxicated, was moving along the sidewalk located between house No. 19 “a” on Vakhitov Avenue and house No. 2 on Gagarin Street Nizhnekamsk. Two inspectors of the patrol service who noticed this, in order to suppress the administrative offense and detain the offender, demanded Turkin to stop. Ignoring the lawful demands of the police, the attacker continued to rapidly move in the car towards one of them. At the same time, avoiding being run over by a car, the police officer managed to jump onto the hood, holding onto the windshield wiper mount with his hand. Turkin continued driving and, having driven more than 230 m, with a sharp jerk of the car, threw the policeman off the hood onto the asphalt. At this moment, the police managed to detain the attacker. As a result, the policeman received injuries that caused minor harm to his health. The court found Turkin guilty of committing this crime and sentenced him to 3 years in prison with deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of 3 years to be served in a general regime correctional colony.”
The sentence of a former policeman who beat a teenager to death is upheld
“The St. Petersburg City Court upheld the verdict of the former district commissioner of the 75th police department, Denis Ivanov, at whose hands 15-year-old Nikita Leontyev died in the department. <...> As lawyer Alexey Dobrynin wrote on social networks, the injured party tried to achieve a more severe punishment for Ivanov - 10 years in prison. The convict is currently serving a 6.5 year sentence to which he was sentenced in September 2013. Lawyers for the mother of the deceased teenager intend to appeal today’s decision of the city court.”
The Tatarstan prosecutor's office admitted that the suspects in the arson of churches were tortured by the police, but the Investigative Committee refused to initiate a criminal case
“On December 23, 2013, the Tatarstan prosecutor’s office considered the complaint of the wife of one of those detained in the criminal case of arson of churches against the actions of Nizhnekamsk police officers and admitted the fact of torture . “The actions of the police officers show signs of a crime under paragraph “a” of Part 3 of Art. 286 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation - abuse of official powers with the use of violence,” said senior assistant prosecutor of the republic Elvira Zaripova. The inspection materials were transferred to the investigative department for Nizhnekamsk to initiate a criminal case. On January 27, 2014, the Investigative Committee for the Republic of Tatarstan announced its refusal to initiate criminal proceedings against police officers. The facts of torture against suspects, according to a representative of the Investigative Committee, have not been confirmed: the suspects allegedly inflicted injuries on themselves, and lawyers were not allowed to see them due to the lack of a power of attorney.”
In Voronezh, former police officers convicted of torturing an innocent person are evading payment of compensation
“Ex-operatives Vitaly Moiseev and Andrei Trineev, convicted of brutal torture of a detainee at the police department, are evading payment of compensation for damages and moral damage prescribed by the verdict. The representative of the victim, Olga Gnezdilova, reported this to RIA Voronezh. Now Oleg Trifonov and his lawyers are appealing the verdict that has entered into force to the supervisory authority. In addition to claims about an unjustified reduction in compensation and their non-payment, Trifonov is appealing the exclusion of episodes of torture by operatives from the criminal case.”