 
Good afternoon, Mr President. Ksenia Golovanova, Interfax.
This year abounded in high-profile cases that caused public outcry.
Members of the HRC talked to you about some of them at a meeting last week, and you did not comment on one of them, the case of Ivan Golunov.
During the Direct Line, you described this case, this situation with Golunov, as lawlessness and said that those responsible should be found.
However, no one responsible has been found, the case file has been classified, and an investigation is underway with regard to unidentified persons.
It seems to me that the Golunov case is a reflection of something that is typical for our law enforcement system;
something, everyone has probably dealt with, unfortunately – complete impunity and the we-don’t-betray-our-own principle.
I have two questions in this regard. Don’t you think that maybe it is time to somehow reshuffle and purge our law enforcement bodies again?
And can you guarantee that the Golunov case will eventually lead to a conviction, and will not be soft-pedaled? Thank you.
Earlier today I was thinking how I began my career as a security agent.
When I joined, service veterans were still there, and some would hide in their offices when one old man would enter the building.
Who was that person? He served in 1936–1937. What did he do? That was a time of “purges” in law enforcement agencies, including security agencies.
One could come to work in the morning, unsuspectingly, not knowing anything, but a criminal case had been initiated against them,
and by the evening, their family was given the body just after they were executed.
And that old man that everyone ran from was the one who carried out those sentences.
So, as far as “purges” are concerned, we have been through this, it happened in our not-so-distant history, and we had better avoid any further purges here.
The fact that we need to improve the system of law enforcement bodies’ work, to control what is happening there –
I also mean public control – is completely obvious. All law enforcement agencies have their own security services, and those are working quite efficiently.
The we-don’t-betray-our-own phrase is just wrong.
Because, indeed, probably, there may be cases where the chiefs want to cover up for someone, the immediate superiors, I mean.
But, again, their own security services are effective.
And a significant number of criminal cases – there are many cases brought against law enforcement officials – are based on the findings of their own security services.
As for the Golunov case (is this the name – Golunov?), indeed, it was decided to classify these materials,
because the investigation raises questions related to the organisation of active search measures, and this is restricted information.
But this does not mean the investigation is not proceeding as it should.
I would like to inform you that five people have been suspended from the relevant services of the Interior Ministry.
They have been fired from Interior Ministry bodies, and criminal cases have been initiated against them.
The investigation is being conducted by the Investigative Committee, not the Interior Ministry.
