Support The Moscow Times!

Cop Faces the Ax for Urinating on Door

An inappropriate toilet break may be the biggest disgrace for the national police since its reform began in March — but the senior police officer caught in the act on video is seeking an honorable discharge.

Police Colonel Andrei Isakov has became a celebrity at the cost of his reputation when surveillance camera footage surfaced on YouTube that shows him relieving himself on what appears to be the door of his own office.

Isakov, who works in the Leningrad region town of Lomonosov, is wearing nothing but socks and underpants in the video, which is set to a soundtrack of old Soviet movie tunes. His subordinates confirmed that he was drunk at the time, regional police said in an online statement Thursday.

The incident apparently took place during work hours, because the video goes on to show officers and precinct visitors carefully stepping around the puddle.

Isakov has asked to be dismissed as part of personnel cuts connected with the ongoing police reform, which would entitle him to collect layoff pay and seek reemployment in the police force in the future, the statement said. But regional police have requested instead for Isakov to be fired for misconduct, which would carry no benefits.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

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 every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more