WEBVTT

1
00:00:06.680 --> 00:00:08.706
When was the last time you called a judge?

2
00:00:08.706 --> 00:00:09.025
?

3
00:00:09.025 --> 00:00:11.000
When was the last time you called a judge?

4
00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:13.313
I never call judges. At all.

5
00:00:13.313 --> 00:00:16.371
I meet with judges from time to time,

6
00:00:16.371 --> 00:00:19.593
I mean my former university classmates.

7
00:00:19.593 --> 00:00:21.739
There are many judges among them.

8
00:00:21.739 --> 00:00:23.461
What about those who are in office?

9
00:00:23.461 --> 00:00:26.788
There are some who are currently in office.

10
00:00:26.788 --> 00:00:30.651
However, I meet with them as my classmates and not in their 

11
00:00:30.651 --> 00:00:33.084
capacity as judges.

12
00:00:33.084 --> 00:00:33.899
With whom?

13
00:00:33.899 --> 00:00:37.370
With my class-… Uni mates.

14
00:00:37.370 --> 00:00:38.551
Does that expression exist?

15
00:00:38.551 --> 00:00:40.580
Well, let's say I've invented it.

16
00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:46.047
Do you know what case was the most high-profile in 2019?

17
00:00:46.047 --> 00:00:46.658
No.

18
00:00:46.658 --> 00:00:48.644
The Ivan Golunov case.

19
00:00:48.644 --> 00:00:50.069
Yes, I heard about it.

20
00:00:57.849 --> 00:01:03.278
And it became a high-profile one in part because active members 

21
00:01:03.278 --> 00:01:08.368
of society were very disgruntled with what was done to that 

22
00:01:08.368 --> 00:01:10.404
young man, a journalist.

23
00:01:10.404 --> 00:01:12.049
There was nothing good about it, true.

24
00:01:12.049 --> 00:01:15.838
Most likely, he could have ended up behind bars.

25
00:01:15.838 --> 00:01:17.415
Yes, but that didn't happen.

26
00:01:17.415 --> 00:01:19.261
It didn't happen because people got involved.

27
00:01:19.261 --> 00:01:20.588
That's good, very good.

28
00:01:20.588 --> 00:01:24.263
Is that the only way to guarantee justice?

29
00:01:24.263 --> 00:01:27.994
Look, what I want to say is people getting involved…

30
00:01:27.994 --> 00:01:28.999
Yes…

31
00:01:28.999 --> 00:01:34.904
That makes a difference in today’s Russia. And it's good.

32
00:01:34.904 --> 00:01:38.000
Currently, I think…

33
00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:40.332
Five people have been detained…

34
00:01:40.332 --> 00:01:42.091
The situation evolves in a simple way,

35
00:01:42.091 --> 00:01:43.231
law enforcement agencies are looking into the matter.

36
00:01:43.231 --> 00:01:45.101
It would have been better if the mastermind behind it all 

37
00:01:45.101 --> 00:01:46.410
had been found.

38
00:01:46.410 --> 00:01:47.945
Some have been fired, some detained.

39
00:01:47.945 --> 00:01:51.044
Do you want them to beat confessions out of people or to obtain them 

40
00:01:51.044 --> 00:01:53.492
in due course in accordance with the law?

41
00:01:53.492 --> 00:01:56.103
The latter seems to be a better option. But it takes time.

42
00:01:56.103 --> 00:01:59.450
There shouldn’t be any rush, nor any haste.

43
00:01:59.450 --> 00:02:01.395
Konstantin Kotov as well.

44
00:02:01.395 --> 00:02:02.455
His case is currently being reviewed,

45
00:02:02.455 --> 00:02:04.112
and the Constitutional Court has ordered that… 

46
00:02:12.552 --> 00:02:15.397
Things got going after this issue had been referred to you, to you personally,

47
00:02:15.397 --> 00:02:17.573
after the news conference.

48
00:02:17.573 --> 00:02:21.989
So, it appears that the President's personal involvement,

49
00:02:21.989 --> 00:02:24.077
this hands-on control does matter after all.

50
00:02:24.077 --> 00:02:28.356
It appears that the President, acting as the guarantor 

51
00:02:28.356 --> 00:02:31.081
of the Constitution, has such a right and must respond to these sorts 

52
00:02:31.081 --> 00:02:34.628
of issues, which we see happening in real life.

53
00:02:37.588 --> 00:02:44.585
It turns out, as the actual figures stand… The percentage 

54
00:02:44.585 --> 00:02:49.650
of acquittals in 2018 was 0.23 percent.

55
00:02:49.650 --> 00:02:55.180
Do you know what the prison population was in the early 2000s?

56
00:02:56.691 --> 00:02:57.811
No idea.

57
00:02:57.811 --> 00:03:00.613
It actually halved.

58
00:03:00.613 --> 00:03:03.950
The prison population? You mean those behind bars?

59
00:03:03.950 --> 00:03:07.050
Yes. The number halved.

60
00:03:07.050 --> 00:03:09.761
Decreased in an unnoticeable manner,

61
00:03:09.761 --> 00:03:12.615
with no fuss. In fact, it's actually a sort of revolutionary 

62
00:03:12.615 --> 00:03:16.252
development. It has been taking place gradually,

63
00:03:16.252 --> 00:03:20.811
as a result of various decisions liberalising the legal responsibility 

64
00:03:20.811 --> 00:03:24.035
of citizens who committed minor offenses or are first-time 

65
00:03:24.035 --> 00:03:27.039
offenders, and so on. It halved.

66
00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:28.989
You know perfectly well, I don't have to tell you that there were some 

67
00:03:28.989 --> 00:03:30.460
cases that sparked a widespread public outcry…

68
00:03:30.460 --> 00:03:31.092
That happens.

69
00:03:31.092 --> 00:03:34.261
Everything is judged based on just one fact.

70
00:03:34.261 --> 00:03:34.635
I understand.

71
00:03:34.635 --> 00:03:36.636
They judge everything.

72
00:03:36.636 --> 00:03:39.827
The Serebrennikov case, for instance.

73
00:03:47.567 --> 00:03:50.874
How much longer must it last? And you will say again that 

74
00:03:50.874 --> 00:03:52.255
this is for the court to decide.

75
00:03:52.255 --> 00:03:52.758
Of course.

76
00:03:52.758 --> 00:03:55.415
They have already put their signatures and names on petitions.

77
00:03:55.415 --> 00:03:57.775
Who put their signatures and names on petitions?

78
00:03:57.775 --> 00:04:00.941
People who have prestige in society, prominent people,

79
00:04:00.941 --> 00:04:02.524
they penned a petition for him.

80
00:04:02.524 --> 00:04:07.674
Andrei, listen to me! The opinions of people respected 

81
00:04:07.674 --> 00:04:10.015
in society are important.

82
00:04:10.015 --> 00:04:14.289
I think that the court takes into account the opinions 

83
00:04:14.289 --> 00:04:16.698
of respected people. But still,

84
00:04:16.698 --> 00:04:18.916
it has to make judgments based not on their opinions,

85
00:04:18.916 --> 00:04:21.011
but based on the law and legal awareness.

86
00:04:24.851 --> 00:04:26.997
Certainly. However, there was an incident,

87
00:04:26.997 --> 00:04:28.466
which triggered just as much of a public uproar,

88
00:04:28.466 --> 00:04:30.407
this concerns the Moscow rallies last summer.

89
00:04:30.407 --> 00:04:31.584
Yes.

90
00:04:31.584 --> 00:04:33.468
When the bottle…

91
00:04:33.468 --> 00:04:34.558
Everyone can…

92
00:04:34.558 --> 00:04:40.008
Which, in your interpretation, immediately turned into something.

93
00:04:40.008 --> 00:04:42.208
Ok, somebody threw a bottle.

94
00:04:42.208 --> 00:04:46.686
You draw a parallel right there with Paris and Hong Kong.

95
00:04:46.686 --> 00:04:48.493
This cannot be allowed!

96
00:04:48.493 --> 00:04:51.400
Today they throw a bottle, tomorrow –

97
00:04:51.400 --> 00:04:53.061
a chair, then cars are smashed to pieces.

98
00:04:53.061 --> 00:04:56.241
It cannot be allowed, things mustn’t get out of hand,

99
00:04:56.241 --> 00:04:59.297
it has to be within the law.

100
00:04:59.297 --> 00:05:01.915
And the National Guard of Russia,

101
00:05:01.915 --> 00:05:03.008
why are the troops so vulnerable, timid?

102
00:05:03.008 --> 00:05:08.047
They are both vulnerable and timid. They are doing their job.

103
00:05:08.047 --> 00:05:14.024
And they must do it. Moreover, here they’re dealing with protesters,

104
00:05:14.024 --> 00:05:16.823
tomorrow they will face a barrage of bullets,

105
00:05:16.823 --> 00:05:18.944
and what’s more they take part in combat operations.

106
00:05:18.944 --> 00:05:24.023
And when somebody spreads information over the Internet that their 

107
00:05:24.063 --> 00:05:28.078
children should be killed, what in the world is that? 

108
00:05:35.278 --> 00:05:38.887
This is being said about those who, if the Motherland calls,

109
00:05:38.887 --> 00:05:44.222
have to put themselves in the line of fire to protect the interests 

110
00:05:44.222 --> 00:05:48.929
of the state, society and our particular citizens? You know,

111
00:05:48.929 --> 00:05:51.458
this can really disrupt the country’s balance.

112
00:05:51.458 --> 00:05:54.269
To an extent there will be hell to pay. We can’t risk it.

113
00:05:54.269 --> 00:05:56.919
But when nightsticks are wielded…

114
00:05:56.919 --> 00:05:59.296
Nobody resorts to swinging a nightstick without a reason.

115
00:05:59.296 --> 00:06:00.861
Mr President…

116
00:06:00.861 --> 00:06:02.573
Please, listen to me.

117
00:06:02.573 --> 00:06:06.567
If people act within the existing rules and laws,

118
00:06:06.567 --> 00:06:08.909
who would want to swing a nightstick? On the contrary,

119
00:06:08.909 --> 00:06:10.268
they should be protected.

120
00:06:10.268 --> 00:06:11.608
Watch the video.

121
00:06:11.608 --> 00:06:12.321
I believe you.

122
00:06:12.321 --> 00:06:13.970
Showing a woman being beaten in her ribs,

123
00:06:13.970 --> 00:06:16.477
and then they don’t find the perpetrator – who is he or where is he?

124
00:06:16.477 --> 00:06:22.048
Most likely, you’re talking about the so-called unauthorised protests.

125
00:06:22.048 --> 00:06:22.405
Yes.

126
00:06:22.405 --> 00:06:25.980
Well, there you have it! Get permission,

127
00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:28.482
go and express your opinion.

128
00:06:28.482 --> 00:06:32.200
After all, you see, the Internet, the mass media,

129
00:06:32.200 --> 00:06:33.413
including the opposition media,

130
00:06:33.413 --> 00:06:36.354
they will come wherever you are.

131
00:06:36.354 --> 00:06:39.939
Just anywhere you are, wherever you go,

132
00:06:39.939 --> 00:06:45.730
wherever you gather to express your discontent with the ruling 

133
00:06:45.730 --> 00:06:50.940
authorities, since millions of people will be informed about it via 

134
00:06:50.940 --> 00:06:54.011
the Internet and mass media. Right?

135
00:06:54.011 --> 00:06:54.400
Yes.

136
00:06:54.400 --> 00:07:00.136
Why block traffic? In order to incite security forces into 

137
00:07:00.136 --> 00:07:05.871
swinging their nightsticks. And then you’d ask me about it.

138
00:07:05.871 --> 00:07:09.371
That is the point! And nothing more!

139
00:07:09.371 --> 00:07:12.517
To display what kind of heroes they are,

140
00:07:12.517 --> 00:07:17.040
and that they will protect the interests of citizens with the same zeal 

141
00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:19.787
if they get into power and engage in governing.

142
00:07:19.787 --> 00:07:23.322
It is not enough to just blame the authorities in order to convince 

143
00:07:23.322 --> 00:07:26.984
the electorate that those who do the blaming are exactly 

144
00:07:26.984 --> 00:07:31.091
the people they need. It is necessary to provide a positive programme.

145
00:07:31.091 --> 00:07:33.287
A pike lives in the lake to keep all fish awake.

146
00:07:33.287 --> 00:07:40.514
Right. That is good, but not enough to effectively develop the country.