Several comments on yesterday’s events.
1. It is hard to analyse the tragedy that took place in Knyazhychi city because of a lack of reliable information. That is why it is better to avoid jumping to conclusions and big statements. At the same time, the fact of shooting among representatives of the same law enforcement body, that caused 5 deaths, is very confusing and can result in staff changes in high posts of the National Police and a strong public reaction.
It is disturbing that position of the MIA and National Police repeats word for word a Facebook comment of Anton Gerashchenko, counselor of the Minister, which had been published before the official position of the National Police appeared. We believe that official position of the state body should come from Heads of that institution and be operative, without unfounded delays after the most high-profile events.
2. Events that happened near Kiev can be used by interested people to support any opinion – “bad reform”, “old professionals didn’t make such mistakes”, “there are good patrol officers and those were arrested in a bad way”, etc. Lack of information makes us more critical to any one-sided comments on the topic. Moreover, it is disturbing that most comments come from “personal sources of the MIA” and former police officers, including persons close to politics, what makes people trust the source. But such experience in work of law enforcement doesn’t guarantee adequate comments.
3. Based on official version we see absolute disagreement during the special operation and minimum training for actions in extreme circumstances, when police officers couldn’t figure out what to do, noticed their colleagues and started shooting to kill instead of finding out details via the radio
There are other questions too. For instance, why the special operation was in one place, but burglars, who were supposed to be arrested, were apprehended in Kiev in a few hours. It seems that it was easy to catch thieves, what makes this whole operation doubtful.
Another question – why did the alarm go off? Why did it go off when the security police come? Why did they easily identify the special group?
Official version of the National Police has too many weaknesses, it is too inconsistent and makes us think that the version of tragic set of circumstances is imposed on the society in order to hide another story, which is very disadvantageous for reputation of the National Police.
4. Prosecutor’s Office has to find out facts of the tragedy. It carries out a pre-trial investigation according to investigative jurisdiction requirements of the CPC. The Police carries out separate official investigation, which may result in disciplinary sanctions against offenders.
Prosecutor’s Office and the Police have to inform society about progress of the investigation considering effect of the event. Unfortunately, society forgets about such cases in a week and people don’t ask Police and Prosecutor’s Office to report about offenders, punishment and preventive work carried out in order to avoid such tragedies in future.