Russian Police and Russian People Back Vigilante Groups, 'Public Verdict' Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, July 31 – One of the more disturbing developments in Russia over the last several years has been the emergence of groups who in the name of supporting law and order engage in vigilante-type actions and who are sometimes used by the authorities to do their dirty work in a way that offers the powers that be a certain deniability.

            Now, the Public Verdict rights group has prepared a report showing that many in the Russian police force welcome the cooperation of these groups rather than viewing them, as do many activists, as a threat to the rule of law and the rights and freedoms of the people (kommersant.ru/doc/4435194).

            But not only do many police officers say that groups like StopKham and Antidiler, “do more good than harm,” many Russians do as well, “not only approving such attempts at taking over police functions [by such groups] but also are ready to make their peace with any force accompanying such actions,”  according to the new study.

            In her report on this trend, journalist Mariya Starikova says that a vigilante is usually defined as someone who pursues violators of the law outside of normal legal channels on the assume that the police are ineffective. The Public Verdict group simplifies this concept by referring to such people as “pseudo-policemen.” 

            Asmik Novikova of the Public Verdict study says that only one Russian in ten views the activities of vigilante groups as exclusively harmful, with far larger percentages saying that they make a positive contribution.  More than half of its sample said that “some citizens may force others” to obey the law.

            Novikova says that Russian vigilantism is typically very specific in its targets, with some groups focusing on parking enforcement and others on public alcoholism or drug dealing rather than having broader agendas.  But even in these narrow areas, she continues, they often trigger conflicts rather than improve public order.

            Denis Volkov, deputy director of the Levada Center, says that Russians are broadly tolerance of the use of force by the police or those allied with the police and do not think that they have the right to speak out against it, including when such force is used by extra-legal vigilantes.

            Starikova spoke with the leaders of groups which fight parking violations and drug dealing. Both were proud of what they have been able to accomplish and only wish they had more authority to enforce the law.  Apparently, the Moscow police union and the Russian Guard want them to be more heavily involved, especially in raids on violators.

            But Anatoly Kucheren, head of the public advisory council of the Interior Ministry, warns that “citizens cannot assume the authority of the police because if they do, they risk landing ‘on the bench of the accused’” alongside those they say they are targeting. They must offer their services but act only in coordination with the police rather than independently.