To Cope with Enormous Shortage of Police in Russian Cities and Villages, Moscow Now Using Militiamen from Kyrgyzstan

Paul Goble
    Staunton, Dec. 1 – Russian interior ministry officials over the last several months have been complaining about the serious shortage of police officers in Russian cities and villages (windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2024/11/russia-facing-increasingly-serious.html). Now, they have come up with a solution: they’re importing militiamen from Kyrgyzstan to fill the gaps.
    Moscow clearly hopes that these officers will help to maintain law and order in an increasingly difficult situation where ever more Russian police are choosing to take the enormous bonuses and go to fight in Ukraine (sibreal.org/a/mvd-davno-golodaet-pochemu-v-rossiyu-priglashayut-politseyskih-iz-kirgizii/33216851.html).
    But there are at least two reasons why such hopes may be misplaced. On the one hand, such Kyrgyz policemen will be viewed as outsiders and even janissaries especially at a time when anti-migrant themes dominate the Russian media. And on the other, their use highlights something Moscow doesn’t want advertised: the weakness of the state in this most basic of areas.