Interview

SERGEY DUBROVIN: “OUR PRIORITIES ARE IN FIGHTING CORRUPTION AND TERRORISM”

Head of Investigative Department of the RF Investigative Committee for Stavropol Territory Sergey Dubrovin won regional juridical prize “Lawyer of the year - 2011” in the nomination “Human Rights and Law-Enforcement Activity”. Mr Dubrovin has given an interview to our paper telling how one of the key law enforcement agencies works and defends interests of citizens and the state.

The name “Investigative Committee” used to contain words “of Prosecutor’s Office” in it. What was the reorganization for? Have the Committee’s status changed?

Two years that the Investigative Committee reported to the Prosecutor’s Office have showed that there should be clearer differentiation between the functions of prosecutor’s supervision and preliminary investigation. Therefore, from 15 January 2011 the Investigative Committee has been an independent body. This promotes impartiality of investigation, intensifies co-operation between investigative bodies and prosecutor’s office, makes the difference between investigation management and supervision clearer.

The Investigative Committee shows stable results which means that the staff and organizational decisions made were right. Citizens of Russia are the ones to benefit most from these changes, as their rights must be protected by the law enforcement system of the state.

In what way have the statistics and nature of crimes changed over the past year? What crimes do you consider first-priority to fight against?

The crime rate has been reduced in the region and throughout the country as well. The number of registered crimes in our region has dropped by 4 %. The number of grave and especially grave crimes, murders included, has also decreased. Yet, the number of rapes has increased by almost a third. There are more official malfeasances including bribery.

Our department pays the closest attention to measures against corruption, raiding, extremism and terrorism, offences against children and other socially vulnerable groups of citizens. And our permanent priority is improvement of quality of investigative process and shortening the time of investigation.

What measures are taken by your department to combat nationalism and extremism?

In July 2011, we convened a conference to discuss results of considering the messages on nationalism and extremism facts, and investigation of criminal cases over crimes of this category. It was noted that the number of messages and criminal cases initiated over such crimes had gone up. In 2010, we got 19 messages on the said crimes, in 2011, as many as 40 messages of extremism and nationalism crimes were registered. 5 criminal cases were opened in 2010, and 12 in 2011.

These include cases against Skirko and Dvorakovsky, who plotted a terrorist attack in Mineralnye Vody in Caucasus, attempts on lives of law enforcement personnel, and public acts aimed to incite national and religious hatred and enmity; over facts of armed conflicts in stanitsa Belomechetenskaya of Kochuby district, villages Progress of Kirov district and Mirny of Predgorny district.

As the result of investigators’ hard work we managed to send into the court a criminal case against a 21-year old Dagestani Cherkes Rustamov. He is charged with a terrorist attack committed by blasting an unknown explosive device stuffed with metal strike elements near Stavropol Palace of Culture and Sports. The blast left 8 people dead and over 50 were injured.

We see prevention of extremism through active co-operation with executive bodies, local authorities, and other government agencies. In 2011, we set up an inter-agency anti-extremism working group, arranged effective co-operation with Stavropol Territory Government, Children’s Ombudsman for the Stavropol Territory Governor, Territorial Interior Ministry Central Department, Service for the Execution of Sentences in Stavropol Territory, judicial authorities, Department of the Federal Service for Communications, Information Technologies and Mass Communications Supervision.

Analyzing the investigative activity, what fields are more prone to corruption? And what is the corruption level in the regions in whole?

Combating corruption is one of the priorities in our activity. In 2011, our investigators initiated 83 corruption criminal cases. Most of them are over bribery.

What is more, the most part of the crimes were committed in law enforcement and budgetary spheres, as well as in healthcare and social protection.

Do you think we need new laws and bills to bring down the present level of corruption?

SK has developed Complex plan of anti-corruption measures obligatory for all investigative bodies. Investigators get special education in this sphere, investigation of such crimes is monitored, and a common approach is developed to reveal and prevent them. I think that efficient anti-corruption activity depends in many ways on its transparency and is only possible with active participation of civil institutions. And in order to forestall corruption we should involve public more intensively in anti-corruption examination of legal acts, included in the regions.

And how important is co-operation between the bodies charged with anti-corruption activity?

Corruption crimes are mostly well-concealed, so the close co-operation between the interested bodies takes on special significance. In 2011, we signed an agreement with the Stavropol Territory Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia, Territorial Department of the Federal Finance and Budget Supervision Service in Stavropol. We are now signing a joint order document with the Stavropol Territory Department of the State Registration, Cadaster and Cartography Federal Service. A constant-action group has been set up to co-operate with the Stavropol Chamber of Accounts.

What measures does the Investigative Department take to prevent crimes against children?

Our Department has signed co-operation agreement with Children’s Ombudsman for the Stavropol Territory Governor. Together we have elaborated Instructions for parents.

It is designed for those who don’t want their children to fall victims to crimes and who are ready to join their forces with law enforcement bodies to seek just punishment for any offences against children. You can get these Instructions at any division of the Investigative Committee in the Stavropol territory or find it at the site of the Department (www.scomstav.ru).

Apart from this, I have issued an order for all subordinate divisions to consider the matter of corpus delicti in acts of officials in preventive system and parents who in any way assisted offences against children.

How do you interact with the population?

On any working day, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., citizens can have an appointment at the investigative department at the address: 2, Abramova street, Stavropol. I receive people on Mondays and my deputies - the rest of the week. People can also appeal to inspectors of the Appointment and Documentation Department, and if necessary – to the heads of departments. We provided for the citizens to have possibility to be received by the leadership of the investigative offices at territorial investigative departments.

The department arranges visiting appointments and Internet-reception is accessible from the website. Our help line (8-8652-24-59-60) operates round the clock.

One more important innovation is the reception by Chairman of the RF Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin. Now any citizen has the right to send personal written applications by mail (complaints, proposals), addressed directly to chairman of SK, at reception located at our department.

All this makes the officials available as much as possible for the citizens and protection of their rights.

Mr Dubrovin, in what way do you see co-operation with Association of Lawyers of Russia?

We try to co-operate with non-governmental organizations: this promotes legal propaganda, interpretation of laws, immediate protection of rights.

Co-operation with regional branch of Association of Lawyers will allow our employees to communicate with lawyers and solicitors in informal, but at the same time business-like atmosphere. Such communication provides for constructive dialogue and is of great use for us in law enforcement.

Sergey Vasilievich Dubrovin

Head of the Stavropol regional Investigative Department of Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, lieutenant general of justice. Born 30 December 1966 in village Kuksovo in Tambov region.

Worked in prosecutor’s office as: trainee, assistant to Tambov prosecutor for law compliance in corrective labour facilities, investigator of prosecutor’s office of Machkup district, prosecutor of Sosnov district of Tambov region, first deputy prosecutor for Stavropol Territory, Head of Investigative Department of the RF Investigative Committee for Stavropol Territory.

Mr Dubrovin participated in actions in Afghanistan. Has medals “For courage”, “70 years of Armed Forces”, “From grateful Afghan people”.