The order of the summands
Our northern neighbor has two burning questions, “When is this hell going to come to an end?” and “What is the difference between militia and police?” The news of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s intention to rename the Russian law enforcement bodies was even able to somewhat eclipse the reports on wildfires. The new draft bill “On the Police,” published on zakonoproekt2010.ru, has already caused an avalanche of comments. Most Russian citizens fail to see the point in changing the name.
“To me it’s total nonsense and isn’t going to change anything! A new name won’t make them work better, and the figures won’t improve! People need to be stimulated with salaries, not names. This is going to be another way of laundering of money — to replace doorplates, uniforms, and paint cars anew,” protests a woman from Krasnoyarsk.
However, there has been some positive feedback:
“I welcome any changes, should they be not only formal, like the change of the name of a structure, of a uniform, etc.,” believes Vladimir. “If the reform is going to make the work of law enforcement bodies more efficient, more honest, and well-paid, let us call our militia policemen. After all, as you name your ship, so she will fare.”
A question logically suggests itself: what is going to happen in Ukraine if Russia passes Medvedev’s proposal (and this is very likely the case)? The answer is obvious: the know-how will be promptly borrowed. A working group on renaming the militia has already been created within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to Kostiantyn Stohnii, minister’s main adviser, the ministry explains the necessity of the change by the urgent need to part with the Soviet past.
On the one hand, the good thing is that at least one rudiment of the Soviet era will disappear. On the other, what is going to change? Are they going to stop torturing people at police stations? Is corruption going to disappear? Are the law enforcement bodies going to start working more efficiently? Are the most notorious crimes going to be solved at last?
There is another issue to it: for many Ukrainians over 40, the word “police” will be associated with the German occupation during the World War II.
But even this does not matter. You can call it as you wish. Obviously changing a doorplate is the easiest thing to do. Deep reforms, however, present much more of a challenge. At the very least, sadistic brutes should not be allowed to work in the law enforcement system.
The strategy of law enforcement bodies has to be revised. What can even the most honest and professional officer do when he is informed that there is no money to buy gas for the police car. Meanwhile, generals drive around in indecently expensive imported cars. And as long as this flourishes, no change of plate will help us.
THE DAY’S FACT FILE
The word police comes from Latin politia “civil administration,” from Greek polis “a city.” In February 1917 after monarchy was overthrown, the tsarist police was dismissed. Instead, the units of people’s militia, created in the meantime by the Provisional Government and the Soviets, began to enforce law and order. Back then, militia meant a provisional army formed by citizens, from Latin militia “soldiery,” from miles “soldier.”
Prior to the revolution militia units helped fight off strikers at factories and protests against the regime. After the October Revolution and complete seizure of the power by the Soviets, it was decided not to keep the name (apparently, due to the unpleasant associations that Bolsheviks must have had), so the law enforcement bodies are still called nothing else but militia.
