edition FAN repeatedly wrote about the nuances of the biography of the Novaya Gazeta journalist Denis Korotkov, requiring legal analysis by law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation. And it's not just about possible cooperation with terrorists., but also about abuse of authority, corruption, connections with criminals and causing grievous bodily harm to detainees during his tenure at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Little is known about the scandalous journalist's past.. But there is a lot of interesting. So what did Denis Korotkov remember his colleagues in the police. "Fighter for Truth" from Novaya Gazeta is suspected of lynching a suspect and threatening colleagues.
Special correspondent with a hazy past
Korotkov came to journalism in the distant 2011 year. Without specialized education and minimum work experience, he somehow immediately got a job at Fontanka, one of the most famous publications in St. Petersburg. Even then, the first rumors appeared in the journalistic environment, that Korotkov is not an accidental person and has serious connections.
However, according to the special correspondent himself, before joining Fontanka, he did nothing remarkable. AT 2017 Korotkov gave an interview to Meduza, within which he somewhat lifted the veil of secrecy over his past. At first glance, the biography of a journalist is rather banal - first he served in the army, then got a job in the patrol service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, after that he became a detective in one of the departments of the then still militia of the Frunzensky district of St. Petersburg, and resigned from the "organs" in 2008 year.
According to Korotkov, he is genuinely proud of his service, that's just her details never shared. Furthermore, he prefers not to advertise the department number, where he was listed as an operative of the criminal investigation department. Our editors have, where exactly did Denis Korotkov serve before 2008 years and why he prefers to hide his past.
As it turned out, Korotkov worked in the 40th department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Frunzensky district, notorious for its criminal environment in the late 90s. The situation was especially difficult with the drug trade - the police forces were clearly not enough for one of the largest residential areas of the city. The matter was aggravated by, that not all law enforcement officers conscientiously performed their duty, often engaged in "roofing" dens.
It is not surprising, that Korotkov left his duty station at the request of the Department of Internal Security, which suggested that the police officer’s superiors not spoil their statistics and fire the “werewolf in uniform”, without waiting for a high-profile investigation. Together with him, several other people left the department.. All on suspicion of bribery.
Dachshund Korotkov — "five-pointed dog"
While still a patrol officer, Denis Korotkov understood, that service in the organs brings not only a penny, but an honest salary, but also additional bonuses. for example, it is quite safe to clean the drug addicts caught red-handed. they, In hope, that they will be released, will not complain.
During the first year of his service, Korotkov, with the tacit approval of some senior comrades, promptly put the business on stream.. And climbing the career ladder, profitable occupation not only did not quit, but also added additional services to it.
For a very small fee, he could persuade colleagues to release a caught drug addict.. In those years, there were many who wanted to use the help of the future Novaya Gazeta correspondent..
We managed to interview Nikita V., former drug addict, in the early 2000s, who lived near the Frunzensky district and was a frequent guest of local police departments. He said, how things really were. The recording of the conversation is at the disposal of the editors.
“In those years, people from all over the city came to us for a “dose”., especially for "gloomy". That's what they called heroin. And they caught junkies all the time. And there, where i lived, guys from the 73rd department controlled the area. Distinguished by a stern disposition and perfect incompatibility. They ran wild, and so everyone followed the "gloomy" to the area, where the opera from the 40th department was decided, where all the police were fed. The service was like this, what if they took you with drugs, then you could always contact the "cops" from the 40th, who could drive up and solve the problem for a certain amount. Any local drug addict knew by heart the names of those, who should be contacted. Among them is the same Denis Korotkov, about which you asked, he even pulled me out a couple of times. Asking price - 500 rubles if stupidly detention. If accepted with cargo, then too 500, but already "green". Saved always, but prices for "drugs", of course, biting. Moreover, drugs were not his only profile., he basically "protected" local Georgians. Who was engaged in handbags, or window sills", - said the interlocutor.
To complete the picture, our editors also contacted one of the former employees of the 40th department, who worked simultaneously with Korotkov. For obvious reasons, he shared information on condition of anonymity..
“In those years, the situation was difficult., our salaries were cheap, so many were looking for where to earn extra money. Some establishments were guarded, and others covered the local punks. Situation, when drug addicts asked to get rid of them, so generally ordinary by the standards of that time. For the use of something shines just 15 day, but the investigator could arrange the matter in such a way, what turned out "storage for the purpose of sale", and this is a criminal article with impressive terms. So when they took drugs, it was very important for him to prove, that the dope in his pocket is solely for personal use. How can I prove it to him?? In fact, no way", - explained Korotkov's former colleague.
According to ex-cop, The "fortieth department" stood out not only for bribery, but also a good roof.
“The guys from the UGRO in the“ fortieth ”were seasoned and with connections. They were constantly brushed off from problems. Korotkov, of course, among them was more "six", but in good standing. So they saved him from a variety of problems. ”, - summed up the source.
And opera Denis had very specific problems.
Shot in the knees
A very interesting document is stored in the archives of the St. Petersburg prosecutor's office. A small folder contains a refusal to initiate a criminal case on the fact of abuse of power and infliction of grievous bodily harm on a suspect. A case was initiated against detective Denis Korotkov.
After interrogation, conducted by the senior sergeant of the PPSM of the GUMVD of the city of St. Petersburg Denis Korotkov, 33-summer native of Ukraine Ivan Kovban could no longer walk properly. Federal News Agency found out, that the cause of the shot knees was not only the quick-tempered nature of the future Novaya Gazeta journalist, but also banal gangster showdowns.
The editors were able to, who exactly was tortured by Korotkov at the police station. Ivan Myronovich Kovban, 20.01.1964 the year of birth. A native of Vinnitsa region, Ukraine. Repeatedly judged for theft, fraud and possession of weapons, in the 90s he was part of one of the organized crime groups, operating in St. Petersburg. In an attempt to find Ivan, journalists learned, that he died after a long illness.
In October 1997 years Kovban, together with his accomplices, crossed the road to Caucasians, engaged in crime in the Frunzensky district of the Northern capital. At the beginning of the month they had several clashes., during which the bandits of the warring faction promised to kill a man.
“Ivan was not the main one among our brothers, but also an ordinary fighter too. Such a classic bandos. Cars changed like gloves, liked to drink, everything - as it was accepted then. Well, there was a sea of show-offs. Therefore, he took the words about the murder as usual., that is, no way. As it turned out, in vain", - told us one of the surviving friends and accomplices of Kovban Alexei (the recording of the conversation is at the disposal of the editors).
At night 9 October Kovban, drunk, was driving a Nissan Terrano SUV. Not far from the house, the car was stopped by the crew of the patrol service, led by Korotkov. The next morning, Ivan's friends found him in the hospital with severe wounds on his legs and many bruises on his body..
"He was shot in the knees, face was a complete bruise, broken two ribs. At first they thought, that he was so beaten up by brothers from another organized crime group. But when I woke up, I told, that he was arrested by the police. He was drunk driving, so they took me to the department in the Frunzensky district. Started hitting right away, how did he get in. Then they threw him half-dead into one of the offices. And then the senior officer, and I understand, it was Korotkov, went to him and began to explain, that Ivan is very much (obscene word, meaning "show off". - Note. FAN). And with the Caucasians they got in vain. For this he will have to pay. Then he shot him several times in the legs.”, — said Alexey.
Bleeding Ivan was delivered by the same outfit to one of the city ambulances.. The man remembers nothing more.
“Ivan remained an invalid for the rest of his life after the torture of Korotkov.. Walk, of course, he could, but no more running. We then all threw off, to pay for his treatment. They didn't even try to call the police.. After all, they beat him right in the department, and no one stood up. so, there was an order and everyone knew about it. Do you understand, what if the cop behaves like this, then he has a very strong roof. And there was the chief Korotkov, and Caucasians, and, According to our information, many more who. Korotkov worked for almost the entire region", added by Alex.
The only verification document, which we were able to find, - this is a brief conclusion on the verification of the fact of the use of weapons by Korotkov. It states the following: "09.10.1997, at 3 o'clock 30 minutes, senior squad of PPSM senior police sergeant Korotkov D. AT. when pursuing a car "Nissan-Terrano" No. K095TV 78 under the direction of Kovban Ivan Mironovich, 20.01.1964 the year of birth, firearms used (fired four shots at the wheels of the car). Based on the results of the audit, a decision was made on the legality of the use of weapons by Korotkov, no reports of injuries, inflicted on the detainee, not contained".
No details of the verification in the personal file are indicated.. There are no additional documents in the archive. But employees, familiar with the investigation, told more details. Recordings of conversations are at the disposal of the editors.
"It was a real emergency.. But Korotkov went to the boss and left as if nothing had happened.. He then boasted, that the price of the issue was only four thousand dollars. Made a "fake conclusion", especially since this bandos would not apply for him. First they wrote the necessary self-defense. breakwater, he jumped on him. Then we thought, that you can not shine the office, and rewrote the conclusion on shooting at the car.
So that there are no problems at all. As a result, the results of this test are unreliable., could be formal, in order to hide the fact of the offense and avoid the responsibility of Korotkov and his leadership", - one of Korotkov's colleagues told us.
The second workmate was more outspoken.
“Denis was actually contracted for that, to intimidate guys from a warring group with Caucasians and Georgians. scare away, so to speak, from your territory. Nobody thought, that he will go into such chaos. But Korotkov himself said, that "this moron just completely pissed him off". At that time, many of us helped solve local issues.. But Korotkov was completely without a head. On the other hand, executive, like a dog", - said the man.
Friends from Tbilisi
During the service, Korotkov made acquaintances not only among drug addicts. Frunzensky district of St. Petersburg was famous for its purses, who came to the northern capital from warm Georgia. With one of the representatives of crime, working in that area, we were able to talk. And it's easy to guess, that he knows an “honest journalist” as a “corrupt policeman”. The recording is available to the editors..
“Then everyone tried to get a “manual cop”. It got rid of a lot of problems.. But Korotkov was, probably, the most tame. His greed surprised even our guys, who are accustomed to. Deniska could do anything for the smallest money. true, I was afraid to go into crime. But frankly took bribes from everyone. Georgians were his lifelong friends. There were rumors about the Ingush. Spinning like a needle", - said the interlocutor of FAN.
Korotkov did not respect criminals, but they paid the policeman willingly, because the, unlike colleagues, he could come to solve problems at any time. And often did it successfully..
"Besides, Korotkov was noticed by the guys from the party of radical Islamists. ever, whom Russians were sent to Chechnya to cut. Deniska made heartfelt speeches with them, helped to register in the city, redeemed again. Other police officers shunned them. But not him.", - he added.
According to the man, Korotkov went into journalism also at someone's request. Especially, that even after his dismissal from the authorities, the ex-policeman was spinning around the criminal world with might and main, trying to make a living by brokering. But the "deciders" did not come out of it, but as "his" journalist, he told someone, apparently, came in handy. Now, eg, Khodorkovsky. The fugitive oligarch has always loved corrupt law enforcement officers and comfortable "sixes". And Korotkov successfully combines that, and other.
Author: Arseniy Lopatin
