Two Russian policemen have been disciplined for negligence after leaving a Kalashnikov rifle unattended on the roof of their car while relaxing inside their vehicle, a news report said Tuesday.
Footage of the incident uploaded Monday to YouTube shows a forgotten AK-47 automatic rifle lying on the roof of a police vehicle, while an officer sits in the front passenger seat “playing with his phone,” according to a voice heard in the video.
The second policeman is not within view, but is presumably seated behind the wheel of the car, marked as belonging to the police force of Chusovoi, a town in the Ural Mountains.
“[All you need to do] is walk up to [the car], grab the gun, and that's it,” a male voice, presumably belonging to the person recording the video, is heard saying.
“This is how our policemen do their jobs,” a female voice adds.
A spokesperson for the Perm region police, Artur Gainanov, said the policemen had been found guilty of negligence, Fapnews.ru website reported Tuesday. It was not clear from the report when the incident had taken place.
The news website claimed the policemen had forgotten about the weapon and would drive off, leaving it behind. The report did not specify whether that is what indeed happened.
In a similar security lapse four years ago, in 2011, a schoolboy used a weapon that had been left unattended by police to fire upon his classmates. Two children were injured in the shooting, which took place in a youth camp in the Dagestan republic, the report said.
Watch the video:
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.
