Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said at a meeting with U.S. police that Moscow is safer than New York when it comes to certain types of crime.
Moscow has fewer burglaries and rapes, factoring in the number of its residents, Kolokoltsev said during a meeting with New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly in the U.S. city.
"I am stating with gratification that Moscow is not inferior to New York in terms of the safety of its residents — and it's even superior by several counts," he said Monday, RIA Novosti reported.
Kolokoltsev's comments come after his ministry collated crime data for both cities.
He also praised the practice of using sniffer dogs at the entrance to the Moscow metro as a means of preventing terror attacks, according to a statement by the Interior Ministry. He didn't elaborate.
In New York, police filled in Kolokoltsev on how they deal with unauthorized rallies, gatherings that have become more visible in Russia.
As conveyed by the Interior Ministry statement, what he heard was that if any offenses occur during these events, "U.S. colleagues act swiftly, and all individuals that are implicated in mass riots are detained."
Kolokoltsev's comments came a week after a global study found that only four in 10 Russians feel safe alone outside at night. The survey by U.S. Gallup ranked Russia eighth from the bottom of a list of 134 countries where residents feel unsafe. At the bottom of the list was Venezuela.
The survey did not focus on Moscow alone but the overall mood in the country. Gallup researchers said Russians' fear of being outside at night has grown in recent years and was directly linked to their low confidence in the police force.
Related articles:
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.
Remind me later.
