The Russian federal law on police came into force today. Its main goal is building up relations between citizens and the police. The Interior Ministry is establishing a new structure with only the best staff, ITAR-TASS reports.
The main changes concern the rights and duties of the police. They are no longer responsible for sobering-up centers and the deportation of illegal migrants. All police officers will be re-evaluated. 20% of the staff will be made redundant. The re-evaluation process will be held in 3 stages, Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev said in an interview with the Izvestia paper.
He said that the central office will have a new structure, as well as the regional police departments.
The police officers will still be called “militia”. The word “police” and its treatment are still a matter of discussion. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says that “militia” is out of date.
The bill on police was published on a special website on August 7. The president held public discussions of the issue and met publicity and police staff. The bill was updated on October 27, 2010, and introduced to the parliament. The bill was passed on January 28. Medvedev signed the law on February 7 and congratulated all the people present at the signing ceremony
