Officer Exposes Police Corruption Using the Web

Vadim Isakov

On November 6, a police officer at
the Department of Internal Affairs in
Novorossiysk used his personal Web site
to address Russian Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin and talk about
numerous problems police officers face in Russia.

In his video address available on
www.dymovskiy.ru and YouTube (part I and part II [RUS]),
Aleksey Dymovskiy is calm and meticulous.
He talks about diminishing police honor,
bribes, corruption and low pay
that poison lives of many police officers in Russia.
I think many people will understand me.
I want to work but I am fed up with
fictional plans when we are forced
to investigate crimes that don't exist.
I am fed up with fictional plans when
we are told that we need
to imprison certain people. I am fed up
with staged crimes designed
to put some people in jail.
Continuing with his revelations,
Dymovskiy admits putting an innocent person
in jail under the pressure from his supervisor:
The director of the Department of
Internal Affairs awarded me rank of the Major,
which I received in May, because
I promised him to put an innocent person in jail.
I'm not afraid to say that. I understand
that it can be punishable.
But it is the truth and I admit that.
Dymovsky also appeals to Russian
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin urging him
to investigate those problems and put
an end to the widespread corruption in the police.

The video hit a "viral" stage within hours
after its publication with several hundreds
of thousands of clicks on YouTube.
It was widely covered by the Russian
mainstream media and discussed
on the countless blogs. It is one of the first
examples when Russian citizens
successfully deploy new media platform
to draw attention of the government
toward hot issues in the country.

The novelty of "citizen video addresses"
in Russia is best indicated by
a cautious comment from one
of the most popular bloggers
in the country dolboeb:
A monologue with enormous force.
I won't be surprised if it turns out
to be a viral marketing.
The character is too out-of-this-word.
Another blogger marchenk writes:
None of us is an angel...
I wouldn't admire him [Dymovskiy] as
an honest policeman and the lover
of the truth (he admits himself that
he received the rank of major
for putting an innocent person in jail). [...]
However, sincere respect for bravery.
There are honest police officers after all.
Because of them, it makes sense
to push forward police reforms.

I hope to God his publicity gives him
protection and honest
consideration of his situation.
On Sunday, November 8, Rashid Nurgaliev,
the Russian minister of internal affairs,
announced the audit of police forces
in Novorossiysk. Meanwhile, Dymovskiy
has been fired "for libel and actions
that damage the honor" of the police.

In his interview to Russian radio station
"Ekho Moskvy," Dymovskiy said he
had been followed and was considering
sending his family to Moscow
for security reasons.

You may view the latest post at
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/09/
officer-exposes-police-corruption-using-the-web/

 

--
J-L K
Sent from Kigali, Rwanda