During yesterday’s reception of citizens in Nizhny Novgorod a lot of citizens appealed to the Chairman of the Russia’s Investigative Committee complaining about illegal actions or omission of the police. Namely, one of local residents told that her husband constantly threatened to kill her, however district police officers did nothing about that. Basically the point of the complaints is unqualified work done by some of the police officers, which means their negligence. Even if we assume that at the moment there are serious consequences caused by those actions, than the recent mass slaughter in Nizhny Novgorod shows that such consequences hit suddenly.
Investigating the case against Oleg Belov charged with killing his wife, mother and six children, we become more and more convinced that that murder could and should have been prevented. Investigators have found out that district police officers had numerous times refused to open a criminal investigation following appeals filed by Belov’s wife and had not bothered themselves with checking her reasons. During one of the checks they had not even questioned Belov just because he was not at home at the moment. As a result the police officers had refused to open the case because there hadn’t been a crime. At the same time the woman told that her husband had threatened to dismember her body and throw it away, which actually happened a few weeks later. Claims that the man had regularly beaten his children and drowned them in the bath had also been ignored by the police.
At present, two district police officers have already pleaded guilty and confirmed that had done nothing, had not reported Belov’s threats either to the Russia’s Investigative Committee, or the prosecutor’s office, or the custody authorities, or juvenile commission so that they could take proper measures.
The analysis of the statistics confirms that the number of investigations in felonies committed against minors in Nizhny Novgorod Region has risen by 40% over the past year and a half. It is obvious that the increase in the number of victims of such crimes is connected with the omission of the police.
Therefore, I would like to address once more to all kinds of human rights activists and voluntary group activists representing NGOs of the Russian Interior Ministry. Before rushing to protect those whose criminal omission lead to such horrible crimes, do have a look at the fact, which (believe me, Mr. Kucherena) are terrible. The role of NGOs is not protection of those who cynically and heartlessly ignore pleas of help, but those who can’t reach out to your protectees. It’s great pity that you, the lawyer I deeply respect, do not understand that or so you seem. Never has protection of corporate honor helped any agency to get clear of odd, indifferent and incompetent workers.
Head of Media Relations V.I. Markin
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