Kuchma gives law enforcement officers a raise, and critics question its timing (01/25/04)

Kuchma gives law enforcement officers a raise, and critics question its timing

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - President Leonid Kuchma issued a presidential decree on January 13 to increase the salaries of law enforcement officers at the precinct level and make improvements in their working conditions.

Some members of the Verkhovna Rada questioned the timing and the purpose of the decree, noting that it came as politicians began gearing up for the October presidential elections.

The executive order explained that the goal is "to raise the level of performance of the precinct inspectors of the state militia, to attract highly qualified specialists and to create the required conditions for them to carry out their responsibilities."

It stated that there is a dire need within the Ministry of Internal Affairs to develop a better reserve of law enforcement personnel, to raise the professional qualifications of officers and attract personnel with higher education.

In the decree the president ordered the creation of "a system of material and moral encouragement," so that inspectors and low- and mid-level supervisors had the proper stimulus and conditions to carry out their duties. The decree noted the need to provide additional wages and "proper housing" to some officers.

It also called for a review of the physical conditions at the precincts where most state militia officers work, including an effort to return precinct premises that had been sold off or transferred to other government departments.

Finally, President Kuchma directed the State Committee on Television and Radio to develop a series of programs highlighting the work and accomplishments of the workers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and asked that the Ministry of Culture and Arts develop a series of films, documentary and otherwise, "to raise the authority and image" of state militia officers.

The decree received little attention in the press, as most national deputies remained focused on the ongoing political battle in the Parliament over political reforms and Constitutional change. Nonetheless, some lawmakers noted that the decree and the timing of its release would allow the president to quietly guarantee himself the allegiance of law enforcement officers as the presidential election campaign season began.

While some lawmakers noted the need for the executive order, others showed contempt for the political motivations behind it.

"[The state militia] will defend the president because the way in which they work depends on him," said National Deputy Vasyl Chervonii, a member of the Our Ukraine faction.

He explained that internal affairs officers would remain faithful to Mr. Kuchma whether he raised their salaries or not because the president's policies assure them that corruption would remain their chief source of income.

National Deputy Heorhii Kriuchkov of the Communist faction agreed that the timing for such a move could have been better. He stated, however, that he was not ready to question the president's motivation.

Mr. Kriuchkov said he could not be too critical of the decree because reforms had already taken place within the Ministry of Internal Affairs including an extensive reduction within the ranks of generals and other ranking officials, and said that more reforms are needed. He explained that no one could doubt that inspectors and low-level officials deserve pay increases and that they have a difficult time supporting their families based simply on their government salaries.

"I can't comment on what Mr. Kuchma's ultimate strategy might have been, but on the surface it looks like a decision that was needed," Mr. Kriuchkov said.

| Home Page |