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Russian Whistleblower Cop Arrested

Posted by kdawson on from the predicted-it-himself dept.

Remember the Russian cop's YouTube narrative on police corruption? Reader Max_W writes with the news that Alexei Dymovsky, the cop whose videos started a movement, was arrested (Google translation; Russian original) on January 22, 2010. He is in prison in the south of Russia. Max_W adds: "It seems only a president is allowed to have a video blog in Russia."

4 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Not final by turgid · · Score: 4, Informative

    The UK has a law where citizens (usually brown ones with beards) can be detained for a month and a half without charge, usually in HMP Belmarsh.

    --
    Stick Men
  2. Re:Not final by MarkvW · · Score: 5, Informative

    Bullshit. Mod parent way down. Parent is full of it.

    The US Constitution permits people to be held on a probable cause determination made by a policeman for up to 48 (forty-eight) hours. After 48 hours there must be judicial review of probable cause or the defendant must be released from custody. That's the Riverside case.

    A related provision requires the detained person to be charged within 72 hours of probable cause detention or released. That's the Gerstein case.

    The U.S. Constitution sets a minimum standard. States can set standards that are MORE protective of individual rights than the U.S. Constitution, but they cannot go below the constitutional standard.

  3. Do not just type. Do something to help him! by reporter · · Score: 5, Informative
    The bravery of the policeman who risked his life by publicizing the corruption in his police department is remarkable proof that good people who think and act like Westerners still live in Russia. That he has been arrested and imprisoned is something that everyone on Slashdot knew would happen.

    Please. We should not merely talk and type about this tragedy. We should actually do something to help this victim of the Kremlin.

    For example, we could start a fund for his legal defense and possible eventual escape from Russia to the West. For the sake of humanity, we must not allow the Kremlin to kill him. The Kremlin has already killed too many innocent people.

    If this policeman dies mysteriously in prison, then I hope that someone -- anyone -- assassinates dictator Vladimir Putin.

  4. Re:Not final by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    The US Constitution doesn't say anything about an absolute minimum time before being charged. Feel free to look it up, it is not in there. Court cases and Congress have determined the minimum time, but all the US Constitution has to say is that you have the right to a speedy trial (6th Amendment), that Congress can't suspend habeas corpus except during a rebellion (Art I, Sect 9), and that your rights can't be suspended without due process (14th Amendment). How long a person can be detained before being charged depends entirely on how these provisions are interpreted.