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Vladimir Lukin - on the bill "On the identification of police and the Russian Guard"

On Saturday, a bill was introduced to the State Duma on the identification of police and the Russian Guard. After incidents, at rallies with hard detentions bordering on beatings, far from only those affected by the hands, legs and batons of law enforcement officers, they require holding the latter accountable - not collective, but individual. The essence of the project was told by the initiator - the senator and former Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin.

Vladimir Lukin

Member of the Federation Council

- This bill has long been conceived as a specification of the provisions of the Constitution and basic laws that provide citizens' rights to a public expression of their point of view using rallies, demonstrations, collective processions. This initiative is one of the key points that this process can legally ensure.

When mass public performances swept through the country in 2011-2012, I, as the current Ombudsman, came into close contact with the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Firstly, to organize the control of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights for Mass Events in terms of compliance with the laws of the Russian Federation. So that there are no excesses from either side, I emphasize.

And, secondly, then we developed a certain guide for police officers involved in ensuring order at rallies, where there was also a requirement to have an identification number in a prominent place to determine the individual. Similarly, citizens who go to rallies and demonstrations must have identification documents with them. Just in order to, in the event of disputes, including judicial ones, could be found in a civilized way who and what exactly did. This later became a bill and entered into amendments to the law “On the Police”.

Now nothing is changing - police officers always have identification documents, but the experience of recent years shows that there is a tendency to hide them.

The bill introduced is aimed at eradicating such manifestations - the icons should be visible. How to achieve this most effectively - we all have yet to be decided.

In addition, the previous bill did not take into account the employees of the new body - the Russian Guard. It turns out some kind of paradoxical story-the Ministry of Internal Affairs has a badge, the Rosgvardists do not. It’s how to be half pregnant. This must be adjusted in favor of protecting the interests of citizens. And yesterday I already read that the leadership of the Russian Guard will carefully consider this bill. If they respond positively about this initiative, this will only add prestige to them. This will generally be a big plus for everyone - control over the responsibility of bodies, which in exceptional cases and within limited limits can apply physical force to citizens, should be constant and comprehensive.