Southern Russian Police Receive Award for Rejecting Bribes

(MENAFN) Law enforcement officials in Russia’s southern Rostov Region are now receiving financial bonuses equal to the bribes they refuse, according to a high-ranking official.

Aleksandr Rechitsky, who leads the local branch of the Interior Ministry, informed journalists on Tuesday that this fresh policy is being implemented “in accordance with [his] order,” to honor officers who take a firm position against corruption.

“Every amount offered is transferred to the officer in full,” Rechitsky stated, emphasizing that the reward is a direct match of the declined bribe.

He also noted that legal action is being taken against individuals who attempt to bribe police officers. Over the past two months alone, more than 25 criminal cases have been initiated in such instances, he reported.

This approach aims to motivate law enforcement personnel to uphold integrity, especially in situations involving modest to moderate bribe amounts.

Such offers frequently occur during interactions with traffic officers, particularly involving intoxicated motorists or those dealing with civil infractions.

Rechitsky shared figures indicating that during the first half of the year, authorities documented 767 crimes related to corruption, many of which were tied to the financial sector.

Of those, 260 bribery attempts were thwarted, with Interior Ministry officers responsible for detecting 135 of them.

Former police officer Ivan Artamonov revealed to Rossiyskaya Gazeta that the incentive payments likely correspond to bribes ranging from 25,000 to 150,000 rubles (approximately $321 to nearly $2,000).

Meanwhile, attorney Dmitry Ivanov, who focuses on corruption-related legal matters, pointed out that accurately recording bribes and their specific amounts remains a legally intricate process.

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