The operative sits, but his work lives on

A policeman from Tsvelodubovo and his former charge met in the same pre-trial detention center

A month ago, we reported on the arrest of Sergei Filippov, detective officer of the Roshchinsky 89th Department of Internal Affairs. He is accused of kidnapping a man in the trunk of a car, together with another former detective of the same police department. As soon as news of his arrest became known, other victims of Filippov’s actions began to contact us. One of them is now in the same Vyborg pre-trial detention center as the former operative himself.

Of course, the arrest and even possible proof in court of the criminal activities of a former police officer should not mean the automatic release of everyone who was put behind bars with his participation. However, the case of Tsvelodubovets Nikolai Stepanov seemed remarkable to us as an illustration, firstly, of typical methods of operational investigative work, and secondly, of typical violations.

Once, about a year ago, Tsvelodubovo resident Nikolai Stepanov and Roshchino resident Natalya Novgorodova used drugs together. At this moment, Stepanov still did not know that Novgorodova was under the police’s surveillance and that in exchange for not initiating a criminal case against her, she had already written (allegedly absolutely voluntarily) a statement of consent to carry out the so-called. test purchase. And that he himself was appointed as the victim, in exchange for which Novgorodova would buy his freedom.

Operator Filippov handed Novgorodova a previously photocopied 1,000 ruble bill. As Stepanov later claimed, Novgorodova somehow very persistently tried to hand him a bill, but she failed. Nevertheless, soon the police, who were waiting at the ready with witnesses, took this particular bill from the pocket of the detained Stepanov. He claims that the bill was planted on him. Yes, of course, this is how every second person caught red-handed is justified. And Stepanov’s painful addiction speaks indirectly in favor of Filippov’s version. But there is one strange thing. Stepanov, claiming that Filippov had manipulated the evidence, petitioned the investigative department and the prosecutor's office to conduct a fingerprint examination of the banknote as evidence.

If his fingerprints were not on the bill, this would be proof of his innocence. However, for some reason he was refused.

Thus, now the accusation is based only on the statement of the drug addict Novgorodova and on the operational search activities carried out by the now arrested Filippov. According to Stepanov’s wife Maria, who is monitoring the progress of the case through a lawyer, her husband, in accordance with Art. 228.1 Part 3 of the Criminal Code (illegal sale of narcotic and psychotropic substances on an especially large scale) is punishable by a sentence of 8 to 20 years. 0.92 g of amphetamine, although it costs only a thousand rubles, falls under the “extra large size” category. He has been in a pre-trial detention center for 11 months and only recently found out that Filippov had also moved in with him (although they are sitting in different cells). For various reasons, the trial has already been postponed twice. The next meeting is scheduled for October 26.

Nikolai Stepanov with his wife

Let us emphasize: we in no way justify Nikolai Stepanov, who, due to his own mistakes, became an easy prey for the investigation. However, the punishment that such errors imply (purchase and possession of amphetamine for one’s own use) is a fine or correctional labor (Article 228, part 1), but not 8 years in prison.

Stepanov’s wife also reported Filippov’s unusual behavior after her husband’s arrest. According to her, he came to her with an apology that everything happened this way, consoled her and promised that “with a good lawyer, the whole case will fall apart.”

It is clear that the wife is an interested person, and her words cannot be completely trusted. However, there are recorded SMS messages sent from Sergei Filippov’s number to Maria’s number after her husband’s arrest, and some of them are said to be of a sexual nature. Along with the list of violations during the arrest, the lawyer handed over a printout of the SMS to investigator Oleg Timchenko, which did not affect the course of the investigation.

Let us briefly recall the personality of former detective Filippov. This is, at the very least, a cantankerous person, prone to drinking and hooligan antics. In previous materials we talked about several fights in Tsvelodubovo, in which he managed to take part in just one week. In one of them a man was killed . But even more remarkable is Filippov’s vindictiveness, his desire to punish anyone who stood in his way. He beat and kidnapped his fellow villager Evgeny Smirnov only because he was stupid enough to gossip about the alleged use of amphetamines by Filippov’s own wife. There are known cases when persons of Caucasian nationality arrived at the home of those who had quarreled with him for a showdown. It is clear that it was even easier for him to punish his opponent using his official position, especially if the person turned out to be dependent on the police (unemployed, drug addict, etc.). According to Stepanov, before his arrest, Filippov suggested that he snitch on others. In short, perform the same function as Novgorodova. He claims he refused.

According to a source close to the investigation, Stepanov has very little chance of escaping from a real sentence. First of all, because he himself used drugs. The only thing that could save him was Novgorodova’s admission that she made her statement under pressure from Filippov. Or Filippov’s corresponding confession, which is even more fantastic.

Detective officer of the Roshchinsky 89th Department of Internal Affairs Sergei Filippov

Nikolai Stepanov in pre-trial detention center