Support The Moscow Times!

Investigation Into Moscow Policeman Who Stopped Ambulance for Government Motorcade

Andrei Makhonin / Vedomosti

The Moscow police officer who reportedly held up an ambulance carrying a sick child to let an official motorcade pass has come under fire.

State Duma deputy Alexander Khinshtein told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency on Sunday that the policeman should lose his job over the incident.

Warning: Video contains Russian curse words.

"Police officers should act in accordance with legal requirements for police, which describes one of their tasks as protecting the lives and health of citizens," Khinshtein, deputy chairman of the Security and Anti-Corruption Committee, was cited as saying.

"This is outrageous, the ambulance clearly would not have posed any threat to the motorcade, or the person under protection," he added.

His comments come after a video uploaded online last week showed a policeman detaining traffic on a highway lane, including an ambulance, to let through an official-looking motorcade.

In the video, one of the drivers is heard telling the police officer that the ambulance is transporting a sick baby.

"While children are dying, [expletive] drive around with flashing lights," he is heard telling the policeman in a frustrated voice.

The incident has highlighted frustrations over the perks received and liberties taken by government officials.

The Moscow branch of the Interior Ministry, which oversees the police department, told RIA Novosti on Sunday that the department was looking into the incident.

The Public Chamber is also looking into the case, media reports said Monday.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more