Police Day is being celebrated in Russia today. Police officers have been celebrating this professional holiday since 1962, after a decree on the introduction of the national holiday – the Day of the Militia. In 2010, the militia was renamed the police, and the official name of the professional holiday became the Day of Law Enforcement Officers.
All employees and members of the Ministry of Interior Affairs were congratulated by President Vladimir Putin on their professional holiday. The head of state reminded that their work requires professionalism, courage and self-sacrifice. "This holiday has become nationwide. It underlines the attitude of Russian citizens to your difficult and responsible work. You have devoted your life to work that requires high professionalism and excellent training, and sometimes courage and self-sacrifice,’’ he said in a video message, addressed to employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs during a concert at the State Kremlin Palace.
According to Putin, the agency copes with its task: the fight against crime, corruption, extremism and terrorism. "You protect lives and the peace of other people, stick to traditions that were laid by generations of police officers,’’ RIA Novosti the Russian leader.
The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Vladimir Kolokoltsov, congratulated his employees and veterans on the holiday: "The professional holiday of the police is a special event. It is distinguished among other holidays. Over the years, this holiday has become truly nationwide. It is celebrated in almost every family. The peace and safety of Russians depend on our employees. We still have a lot of problems that we need to solve. But everyone should know that the police performs their duties at any time: both holidays and weekdays,’’ he said.
Today the head of department was awarded the rank of general of police. The corresponding decree was signed by President Vladimir Putin. "Vladimir Kolokoltsov is awarded the special rank of police general of the Russian Federation,’’ the text of the document posted on the Kremlin website informs.
In addition, all employees of the Interior Ministry were congratulated today by Russian pop stars. Alla Pugacheva, the Lube band, Alexander Rosenbaum, Tamara Gverdtsiteli, Alexander Marshal, Maksim Galkin, Lev Leshchenko, Grigory Leps, Kristina Arbokayte, Dima Bilan, Jasmine, Larisa Dolina, Elena Vaenga, Irina Allegrova, Philip Kirkorov and others performed today on the stage of the State Kremlin Palace.
In Chechnya, in honor of the Day of the Interior Ministry Employees, which is being celebrated today, Russian families of police officers killed in the course of duty are to receive 50,000 rubles from the Hero of Russia Akhmat-Hadji Kadyrov Fund. ‘‘The decision was taken by the president of the Aymani Kadyrova Foundation,’’ the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, wrote on his VKontakte page.
