More than 200 thousand people spoke out against the “presumption of trust” to the police
More than 200 thousand people signed a petition aimed against the introduction in Russia of the principle of “presumption of trust” to the police. The text of the appeal published on the website Change.org.
The author of the appeal, lawyer Philip Chimakadze indicated that upcoming amendments to the law “On police” contrary to the Constitution. According to him, if any action the police will always be considered as a priori legitimate, it would lead to arbitrary law enforcement.
“The citizen will be required to “trust” even patently illegal actions of police officers or that legally is the same, to render unconditional obedience. It comes in clear contradiction with the constitutional norm, providing for the inadmissibility of arbitrary restrictions on rights and freedoms of citizens”, — stated in the text of the petition.
On 1 June, the Deputy interior Minister Igor Zubov said that the actions of law enforcement officers should be considered a priori lawful. According to him, the police “acted improperly and exceeded its authority,” must be proved “in a judicial or other procedure”.
To amend the “Law on police” 11 April suggested deputies of the state Duma Vasily Piskarev and Ernest Valeev (“United Russia”). The bill was aimed at the expansion of police powers. In the explanatory note stressed that “the state guarantees the presumption of trust and support the police officer in the performance of his official duties.” However, the next day the bill was withdrawn for revision.