[War] Russia: "One Step Forward"

[Michael Downey]

"One Step Forward"
Interior Minister Vladimir Kalugin
Russian Federation
6 March 2013
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Kalugin poured some sugar into his tea and stirred it slowly as it
dissolved in the water. He had no snobbish foibles about getting
certain brands from certain countries, though the Minister of Internal
Affairs was certainly in a position to acquire rare and expensive teas
from anywhere in the world should he feel so inclined. To him, tea was
tea. A quick source of caffeine for those who didn't like the taste of
coffee.

He was a very pragmatic man. Problems had simple solutions that should
be carried out. A equals B. Such thinking had caused Kalugin
innumerable problems throughout his career in the KGB and SVR. Under
the Soviet system, everything was so convoluted and byzantine that
nothing ever got done. And when that system finally went away with the
USSR (or even Putin, depending on who you ask) he found himself in a
structure that did not appreciate his efficient methods.

Even now, even at the height of power, he harbored bitterness towards
Nemerenko for being removed from the SVR. While the President and his
associates were busy posturing for news cameras and having their
pointless political debates it was men such as Kalugin who had taken
the steps necessary to help preserve this country from both foreign
and domestic enemies, and remove the likes of Putin. Well, most of
them.

"The Colonel-General is here to see you, Minister," his secretary
said. Kalugin nodded and she pushed the door open further so that the
man waiting outside could enter.

"Fedor," greeted Kalugin as General Pushkin, head of the Moscow
Militsiya, stepped into his office. "Sit, if you feel like it."

Many were surprised by how relaxed the Interior Minister tended to be.
His 'excessive determination,' as one person had put it, portrayed in
the minds of people some sort of iron fisted tyrant. In reality
Kalugin presented himself in a very calm and casual manner.

"Minister," replied Pushkin, shaking Kalugin's hand before taking an
offered seat.

"I heard you were overseeing the opening of the new forensics lab?"
asked Kalugin. Pushkin nodded.

"Yes, our new cooperative venture with the American Department of
Justice has been very beneficial. New technologies, new investigative
techniques." There was some loss of pride in asking the Amerakanskis
for help in overhauling their police system, but Pushkin was
progressive enough in his outlook to swallow his pride and see the
long-term benefits.

"I am glad to hear that," nodded Kalugin. "And with our current trend
towards reform, we are going to be heading into a new stage with law
enforcement, particularly in the Moscow region.

"Oh?"

"Yes," continued the Interior Minister. "Let's be honest with
ourselves Fedor, the militsiya system is more of a crowed control
squad than an actual police force. It was used by the Soviets to keep
order on the streets but was never geared towards investigation or
prevention. As an institution, it does not have the mentality needed
to function as a true 'police' force. This has been a major criticism
of the militsiya for years now.

"We're going to do a trial project, stating right here in Moscow. The
capital is the largest city in Russia, and I am sorry to say the home
of many of our worst criminal syndicates. Our idea is to reform the
Moscow Militsiya along the lines of the British Metropolitan Police.
London, like Mosocow, is an enormous city with a vast metropolitan
sprawl and many smaller sub-cities which are dependent upon it for law
enforcement."

"Alright," said Pushkin, leaning back in his chair, listening.

"Now, there isn't going to be a purge of your group," assured Kalugin.
"Men dedicated enough to put on the badge and uniform are hard enough
to come by. In fact we plan to add an additional five thousand
officers to the reorganized agency, or the Moscow Metropolitan Police
as we are calling it. We'll continue the training and technology
exchange with the Americans."

"We've wanted our own tactical unit for some time now," said Pushkin.
If there were going to be reform of his agency then he might as well
push for some things he wanted to see. And frankly, General Pushkin
was sick of relying on the MVD's murder squads ever time there was a
situation regular police couldn't handle.

"We'll make arrangements for the MMP to have its own OSNAZ tactical
team," said Kalugin, nodding. "It is my hope that the institutional
reforms will take about a year to a year and a half to complete. And
lastly, we will be enacting better pay and health care for all police
officers."

A sweetener for the deal. Even if there was a promise of no purges,
Pushkin new such a radical change in any organization as large as the
Moscow Militsiya would cause many headaches and annoyances. Such was
the nature of bureaucracy.
---

Actions:
1) Begin to reform and reorganize the Moscow Militsiya into a more
Western-style Moscow Metropolitan Police, modeled after the British
Metropolitan Police Service.
2) Organize an OSNAZ (SWAT) unit for the MMP, ending its reliance on
the MVD for tactical situations.
3) Continue the training and technological exchange program with the
United States.
4) Enact pay and healthcare increases for all Moscow police officers.