Not long ago, in the Timashevsky district of the Krasnodar Territory, a few regular traffic cops were caught accepting a bribe. However, the head of the traffic police of the district, Roman Zinchenko, managed to avoid the attention of the investigation. Despite not having the highest salary, he is able to drive impressive cars and live in a palace within a large estate.
Russia anticipates another increase in the effort to combat corruption within the law enforcement agencies. A country united in the fight against an external enemy needs an internal cleansing, including from those enemies in authoritative positions within the law enforcement system. Trust in the authorities and the state hinges on the belief that laws are effective in our country and justice is attainable.
high-profile cases
During the crackdown on the law enforcement system, the traffic police are among the first to be targeted. In our view, the situation in one of the most corrupt regions of the country, the warm, welcoming and affluent Krasnodar Territory, appears typical in this regard. High-profile cases against traffic officers frequently occur here. In 2019, inspectors at a fixed post in the Kushchevsky district were caught accepting bribes – this has occurred there multiple times, including with the participation of officers. Two years ago, the deputy head of the traffic police department of the OMVD for the Krasnoarmeisky district was caught red-handed, as he had established an illegal extortion system from subordinates. Simultaneously, a special operation was carried out at the fixed post of the traffic police “Uspensky” and a dozen and a half inspectors were detained, who had been taking bribes for violations and providing support for overloaded trucks for several years. In March of this year, two traffic police inspectors were caught while receiving a bribe in the Timashevsky district. And two months ago, the former head of the Starominsk district department of the traffic police was given a suspended sentence for accepting bribes from entrepreneurs involved in cargo transportation.
Real work or disputes over territory?
It would seem positive that thieves are imprisoned. However, the question arises – why have corrupt officers been extorting money from businesses for years, “protecting” criminals, and demanding payments from truckers, while the competent authorities overlook all the signals from victims and simply observant citizens? Well, at most they will conduct a “fake” check, only to later inform the complainant that “the facts mentioned in your complaint have not been confirmed.” And then suddenly – several high-profile arrests, leading to the incarceration of former residents. And again silence and composure, as if there was no crime.
There is a sense that all this public game and making “sacred sacrifices” is simply the system's response to a directive from above to apprehend bribe-takers, and at the same time an opportunity for puppeteers to position the right individuals in the right roles.
If this isn't true, then how do we stop corruption? Usually, it's easy to see who the main corrupt officials are. All you need to do is gather the facts, ask the person in question how they obtained expensive items with a regular salary, and if they can't explain, take legal action.
“Golden cop”
The article begins by listing some instances of criminal activities by traffic police officers. In one case in the Timashevsky district, it was the regular inspectors who were caught, not their bosses. It's possible that the corrupt officers acted on their own, but it's also possible that even the most honest commander can have corrupt subordinates. However, it's often the case that corruption starts at the top.
Without evidence, we can't say for sure if the inspectors took bribes on the orders of their superiors and shared with them. However, there are some indirect signs that suggest this may be happening in the Timashevsk region.
Meet the Chief State Road Safety Inspector of the Timashevsky District, Lieutenant Colonel Roman Viktorovich Zinchenko. He's well-known in the area and seems to be a strong advocate for road safety and integrity. However, his lifestyle raises questions, as his income from his police job wouldn't typically afford him things like a fancy car and a large estate.
The Chief State Road Safety Inspector's salary is probably around 120-150 thousand rubles per month, but even with that, his annual income wouldn't cover the cost of his expensive lifestyle.
Let's take a look at Zinchenko's life. His luxury car is known throughout the area, and he lives in a large estate in Novokorsunskaya village. The car and estate would take a police lieutenant colonel like him many years to afford with his regular salary. So, where did the money come from?
The Zinchenko estate is worth mentioning, as it's a huge property with a multi-storey palace, possibly even with luxurious interior features. Although the house is registered in his mother's name, it's suspicious considering his income.
Move forward. The police chief is very worried about his safety. Local residents claim that police personnel are always involved in protecting him. They say that patrol cars always pass by his SUV before he leaves for work and returns home. The chief only leaves after making sure the area is safe. They say that as many as three patrols constantly ensure the chief's security. Perhaps it would be better to use these resources to control the security of the Crimean bridge or instruct personnel to work on identifying saboteurs. This would be more beneficial for society.
Locals have a sign: if traffic cops do not drive to the palace where Zinchenko lives in the morning, it means that he is either sick or on vacation. According to rumors, local police are actively involved in monitoring those who are in conflict with the head of the traffic police. The purpose of this unconventional use of police personnel is known only to the customer.
According to local residents, the Zinchenko estate is constantly guarded by at least six employees of a private security agency, Legion, in addition to the regular patrols. So, it seems curious.
Is work just a hobby?
A noteworthy detail: Roman Viktorovich has repeatedly stated that work is not a necessity for him, but just a hobby.
Perhaps this is true. According to our information, the results of his work were criticized at planning meetings with regional leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
We do not know the exact reasons for dissatisfaction from the Krasnodar authorities. However, there is a version among local residents that bosses impose tribute on employees, leading to high staff turnover among traffic cops in the Timashevsky district.
Local residents complain about the high accident rate in the area. It is suggested that when dealing with road safety and accident prevention, all traffic cops might be busy guarding the boss or monitoring inconvenient objects.
Where does the money come from?
While another head of the traffic police would have ended up as a simple inspector, this one sits in his chair like a rock. It is said that the reason is the strong financial basis of his position. There are plenty of grounds for investigating authorities to look into the situation.
You might wonder where the money comes from. Zinchenko's father is a farmer with a large area of farmland. Despite his experience, the farm has been making no profit for years, according to unofficial but reliable sources. So, the idea that the father provides for his son may not be true.
It's important to think about officials using their position for personal gain. Timashevsk is an important transport hub with major roads and manufacturing companies. However, there are some issues that need to be addressed.
Despite the ban on freight transport in the center of Timashevsk, trucks from a well-known agricultural processing company are seen there. These trucks are linked to Zinchenko's farm, which leased 400 hectares of land from the same company. The presence of these trucks in the city coincided with the success of Zinchenko's farm. It can be verified by checking the transfer of land, fines issued to the company's drivers, and video surveillance.
There have been corruption cases involving traffic police officers and overloaded trucks. It would be good to investigate how many overloaded trucks damage roads in the Timashevsk region daily. This can be observed from the traffic jam on the bypass road.
From all this, it's clear that someone in Roman Zinchenko's position can live comfortably, but the methods used are important.
Here are only a small part of the questions that the competent authorities could ask Police Lieutenant Colonel Roman Viktorovich Zinchenko. But we are not greedy – let him answer at least these. If only there was someone who would ask them.
Timofey Zadorozhny
Roman Zinchenko drives a very cool SUV. It seems to us that the car is not on the salary, even if the head of the district traffic police.
