News Release
21.01.2010
MW. Our office receives many letters with requests to explain to the listeners whether there is today a program of protection of witnesses in Russia and if exists how it works, what groups of witnesses are entitled to it? For this reason, the topic of our today's program is "State protection of participants of criminal procedures" which we discuss with our visitor, the Minister of Interior of Russian Federation Rashid Nurgaliev.
- Rashid Gumarovich, it is no secret witnesses play a major role in criminal procedures. However, many citizens refuse to give evidences because they fear the criminals' revenge. Our listeners wonder how can the state guarantee their safety in case they dare to act as witnesses against criminals?
Minister. This is a truly urgent issue. I want to thank our listeners for the interest and attention they show to this issue, first of all.
The protection of witnesses and victims, maintenance of their safety is not less important problem than gathering proofs and capturing criminals. The Department for safeguarding persons entitled to state protection services guarantees safety to participants of criminal legal proceedings. Although this is a rather young management which is less than two years old, it has a highly professional team fully capable of meeting their challenges.
I shall remark that only last year for about 1,600 people applied for the state protection all over the country. Thanks to the skilful actions of our employees no criminal infringements against were committed. It is a sign of excellence which proves the high proficiency of the Department's employees who know their job and are serious about it.
MW. How is the protection maintained?
Minister. Ways and methods of maintenance of protection are different. There is an individual approach for each specific case. The simplest one is the physical protection of the life and property of citizens. The witness and family members are provided personal round-the-clock defense in all places of stay if necessary. The defendants can be given a bullet-proof jacket, means of self-defense and alert communication. For these purposes we use state-of-the-art technical developments and achievements.
However, there are also other methods. They take account of the complexity of a given situation. They include the change of domicile, even the change of appearance. This is the practice which exists all over the world. And in some cases such exhaustive, serious protection measures are applied in our department as well, for the human life is the highest value.
MW. What makes people sure that criminals will not get to know the person witnessing against them and will not avenge themselves on the valuable witness after a while?
Minister. To preserve the life and health of the citizen, the life and health of his or her relatives, the property is the primary challenge of our employees. Therefore, the whole safeguarding process features maximum secrecy.
The real name, domicile and other information identifying a protected person is known to only few employees who bear the personal responsibility for the defendant.
Under certain circumstances, to ensure due safety we completely secure the personal information. In this case the defendant may speak in court in a separate "confidential" room and his or her evidence is broadcast to the court room via a video camera. The special software changes the voice of the person removing figures of speech characteristic of only him or her. All this is done to prevent the criminals from identifying the person for a later act of vengeance.
MW. Rashid Gumarovich, are all witnesses entitled to the participation of the protection program?
Minister. Those whom are in real danger are prioritized. I shall also add that our activity concerns not only witnesses. Any participant of the criminal proceedings can appeal to us, if only the person is in danger. The state is also interested in protecting eyewitnesses and witnesses wishing to escape criminal groups, to give evidence against their leaders or are ready to prevent another crime which is actually a "deal with justice".
MW. How frequently do employees of law enforcement bodies take advantage of the capacities of the state protection program? After all, they are on the front edge of counteraction to criminality.
Minister. The problem of personal safety for employees of law enforcement bodies in discharge of their official duties has always been and is a priority aspect of the activity of the internal security service of the Ministry of Interior of Russia.
Last year, there was a considerable growth of requests for protection. The overall number requests for application of state protection measures submitted to the internal security units in 2009 grew by 23% as compared with the previous year. First of all, this is due to the offensive strategy of struggling against the organized criminality. Thanks to the professional work of employees, complicated and well-concealed criminal schemes began to come to light which makes it possible to detain and reveal leaders and organizers of large criminal communities. During such operations militia officers often are exposed to serious danger from criminal structures.
MW. Rashid Gumarovich, I think you have calmed today our listeners to some extent, and now they will be more willing to co-operate with the investigation, with the court. This is the right thing to do, for it is better than being tormented by remorse for the rest of one's life because of not having once helped to punish the evil.
Minister. You are right, the evil should be punished, the criminal should be detained to preclude commission of new crimes. Today, complicated and multi-episode crimes are being investigated, with difficult operative maintenance and at all these stages citizens should be protected.
It is very important to see justice triumphing, to make the Law equal to everybody, to make it impossible to influence the course of investigation and the final judgment using force or intimidation today. I do think it is right, it is humane, and we are grateful to our radio listeners who ask these questions. This atmosphere proves that we have one and the same legal field equal applying to everybody. The law is equal to all, regardless of the position, the rank, the office. It is our guarantee of justice and peace.
MW. Thanks a lot, Rashid Gumarovich, for this conversation, and see you next week.
Radio broadcast "Conversation with the Minister",
provided by radio station "Militia wave"
www.mvd.ru