Budanov explained why the police are reluctant to use their weapons
Kirill Budanov, Head of the Office of the President, has sharply criticized the current system of law enforcement.
This was reported by Suspilne.
In his view, tragic events, particularly the recent terrorist attack in Kyiv, are the result of a deep systemic problem: police officers are afraid to use their weapons due to fear of criminal prosecution by the state itself.
Budanov emphasized that the roots of this problem date back to 2014. At that time, the widespread discrediting of law enforcement officers and the blanket blame placed on “everyone” created a dangerous psychological barrier for those who continued their service.
The main message for law enforcement officers became the rule: “Do not use your weapon, because the consequences will be dire.”
The head of the Presidential Office cited a specific example from the time the patrol police were established, when officers tried to stop offenders by shooting at the tires of their cars, but ultimately found themselves in the dock.
“What happened to the patrol officers? They were convicted. Why does everyone think that, with a system where the state does not protect its own defenders, these defenders will carry out their duties to the end?” Budanov asked rhetorically.
According to the head of the Office of the President, without a fundamental overhaul of approaches to police work and the provision of real guarantees of protection, it will be impossible to effectively counter threats on the scale of a terrorist attack.
A police officer must be confident that the law is on his side when he acts to ensure the safety of citizens.
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