Ministry of Internal Affairs in Fear: Street Revenge Overshadows the Law, Can Enforcers Regain Their Courage?
The targets of police concerns during law enforcement are quietly changing — they no longer focus on prosecutors, but rather fear the "support groups" of detained individuals. In some areas, the deterrent power of street revenge has surpassed the law: patrol officers are beaten, and courts only impose fines of several tens of thousands of rubles. The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (МВД) admits that as public trust in the state declines, the determination of officers to enforce the law is also eroding. Can the new policy of the Ministry help those who legally have authority regain their authority?
When the Law Fears the Streets
Telegram's internal message channels reveal that the Ministry of Internal Affairs discussed a phenomenon it had previously avoided — "selective enforcement resolve" among officers. Now, police often exercise restraint when enforcing the law, not because of doubts about the law itself, but out of fear of retaliation from the "support group" of the detained individual.
In some areas, bloody revenge against law enforcement has become a common street occurrence. Relatives and accomplices of criminals retaliate against officers through attacks, threats, or even murder of their families, but the enforcers themselves receive no substantial protection — neither legally nor in terms of personal safety. To this end, the Ministry recently proposed a new policy of "zero tolerance for fear of the streets," clearly stating that "an officer's enforcement resolve should not be a personal risk, but a legal duty."
To be honest, the introduction of this policy has become urgent. Russia has long grown tired of "superficial security": from the "dramatic scenes of arrests" in videos, to the sentences of "a few tens of thousands of rubles" for killers and bandits; from the current situation where "police hesitate to act decisively due to uncertainty about future protection" — public dissatisfaction with this model of security is growing increasingly intense.
Now, the balance of fear has completely tilted: it is no longer criminals who fear the law, but enforcers who fear criminals. And each "lenient sentence" or "light punishment" only intensifies this fear.
The law on violence against public officials has become virtually meaningless in practice: attacking a police officer requires only a fine; pushing an officer can lead to probation. Courts, departments, and prosecutors — everyone fears "offending the wrong people," only concerned about "report data remaining unaffected." People gradually realize that "the state's monopoly on violence" seems to exist only on television.
Such cases are numerous:
- Nefteyugansk: Several "youths" (actually adult males with beards) beat two patrol officers in broad daylight, ultimately only fined 25,000 and 30,000 rubles respectively;
- Ekaterinburg: An immigrant attacked a police officer while being deported;
- Kamsk-Uralsky: A criminal's prison sentence was changed to "compulsory labor + deduction of 15% of income."
These cases all point to the same signal: the enforcement system itself has become afraid of using the law.
Fear from the Top Creates Lawlessness at the Bottom
We can blame street violence, migrant groups, or the judicial system, but the root of the fear does not come from these places — it comes from within the system.
For years, police have been trained to "follow orders rather than act according to conscience": writing reports is more important than case outcomes, and report data is more important than justice. The punishment for "overstepping" is much harsher than for "doing nothing," so grassroots officers first consider not whether "the law is just," but whether "it affects their career."
The operational logic of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is "bureaucratic self-preservation": fewer mistakes → less trouble → superiors are at ease. Any proactive law enforcement that involves the use of force is seen as "a risk." In the past, "capturing armed criminals" was heroic; now, "not causing public controversy" is considered "a good cop." The system has turned enforcers into "uniformed bureaucrats" themselves.
More ironically, there is no real protection mechanism within the department: legal support is superficial, and security is sometimes present and sometimes not. If an officer or his family faces threats of retaliation, that becomes "a personal issue." While the upper echelons discuss "report data," grassroots officers are forced to choose between "personal safety" and "professional mission."
The upper echelons fear public backlash, and subordinates fear being held accountable by their superiors — fear spreads downward, not the other way around. When police are violently attacked on the streets, their decision to use force depends entirely on "their fear of responsibility."
If the Guardians Are Afraid, Who Will Guard Us?
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has finally admitted that "fear of the streets" poses a threat to national security. When police hesitate to use force, the country loses its monopoly on "order."
Perhaps for this reason, the department has begun discussing a new policy of "zero tolerance for fear of the streets." The core of the policy is simple: if officers enforce the law legally, the state must protect them as it would protect front-line soldiers. This is not granting police the right to "abuse power," but ensuring they have the right to "enforce without fear."
The Ministry is preparing a practical protection system:
- The Federal Security Service (ФСО) will participate in "security for officers and their families after major arrests";
- A "compensation and support fund for law enforcement damage" will be established;
- New provisions will be added to the Criminal Code to severely punish acts of "threatening or murdering police motivated by bloody revenge."
What was once treated as "daily pressure" is now recognized as a "systemic threat."
This policy creates a new professional ethics for law enforcement for the first time: "compliance with the law" and "decisiveness" are no longer opposing concepts. The state sends a clear signal — the law will back those who defend it. As one ministry general said, "Either we protect those who protect us, or we will lose control of the streets."
If this idea is truly implemented, Russia may, for the first time since the early 21st century, have enforcers who "act without hesitation, strictly according to the law."
Where Do We Go From Here?
"Fear of the streets" is not solely a problem of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but a societal issue. We are accustomed to complaining "police do not protect the people," yet we tolerate "lenient punishment for criminals"; we ourselves have fostered a culture of "lawlessness" — allowing criminals to feel at ease and making enforcers feel guilty.
We cannot expect "unprotected people" to act decisively. If officers constantly worry "after legally detaining someone, their family may have to move," then "order" will be impossible to achieve. The state must shift the object of "fear" from police to criminals.
Additionally, low police salaries are also a core issue. Who would take risks to act decisively for a meager salary? Under rational choices, most people would "turn a blind eye." Frankly speaking, anyone in such a position would likely do the same.
Low salaries have led to severe shortages of personnel in the Ministry of Internal Affairs: Russian Minister of Internal Affairs Vladimir Kolokol'tsev mentioned in a meeting with the president that the number of vacant positions in a year has exceeded 172,000, with an overall shortage rate of 18.7% in the internal affairs system, and in some areas, the rate exceeds 40%. With monthly salaries ranging from 30,000 to 45,000 rubles, no one wants to take to the streets and risk their lives.
We must acknowledge an obvious fact: laws without the backing of force are mere decorations. If the state cannot protect those who protect us, it will no longer be a qualified state. To avoid this situation, our enforcers must regain their confidence. It is time for criminals to fear the law, not for enforcers to fear retaliation.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7563263299052225058/
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