The acting head of the Ministry of Health of the Tambov Region, Alexei Ovchinnikov, resigned after threatening traffic police officers who stopped his car on suspicion of illegal hunting, according to the department’s VKontakte page.
“I consider it necessary to state that, after watching the police body camera video published today, I admit that I was wrong. I raised my voice and spoke in an inappropriate tone. I’m ashamed. I apologize to everyone who knows me, my colleagues and employees. Separately, I want to apologize to the police officers with whom I behaved inappropriately, in some cases using profanity,” Ovchinnikov is quoted as saying in the message.
At the same time, the official emphasized that he was not involved in illegal hunting. He cited the reason for his rude behavior as a sharp deterioration in his health due to spending many hours at the police station and the allegedly rude treatment of the officers.
The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Tambov region reported earlier this week that last weekend, traffic police officers stopped two cars in the Pervomaisky district, in the interior of which they found multiple fragments of roe deer carcasses and tools for butchering them. State traffic inspectors also seized a hunting rifle that belonged to a passenger in one of the cars. The department emphasized that, in accordance with the federal law on hunting and conservation of hunting resources, the permit for hunting ungulates expired in January.
“Kommersant”, 02/14/2024, “Hunting is worse than bondage”: Mr. Ovchinnikov threatened the inspectors with complaints and the arrival of a prosecutor at the site. “You are also sick, you understand,” the minister reminded the police officers, noting that he could organize a hunt in any area. […] Mr. Ovchinnikov claims that he was kept for several hours in the cold, and then in the department where the gun was seized for ballistic examination. The official was not presented with any legal claims. […] He admitted that his emotional and physical state was no excuse for his behavior and apologized to the police for inappropriate language. In connection with this and. O. The minister decided to resign of his own free will. Mr. Ovchinnikov has been performing the duties of the Minister of Health of the Tambov Region since the beginning of 2023. Before that, he worked as the head of the second surgical department of the city clinical hospital No. 3 of Tambov. The official has a certificate and the first qualification category in the specialty “surgery” and is a full member of the Russian Society of Surgeons. Since 2017, Mr. Ovchinnikov has been a member of United Russia (*aggressor country), until his appointment to the post of acting. O. The minister was a deputy of the Tambov City Duma. In June 2022, while on vacation, for two weeks he worked as a surgeon at the Central City Hospital of Svetlodarsk, Donetsk People’s Republic, directly in the combat zone. — Insert K.ru
In this regard, the Ministry of Internal Affairs opened a criminal case on the fact of illegal hunting causing major damage (Part 1 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code, maximum penalty – two years in prison). The Ministry of Internal Affairs did not disclose information about the people who were in the stopped cars, emphasizing that they are currently identifying those involved in illegal hunting.
The Baza Telegram channel published a video the day before in which Ovchinnikov, who was stopped by the police, threatens representatives of the law with “the arrival of the prosecutor” and “big problems.” At the same time, the acting minister did not mince words.
@ostorozhno_novosti, 02/14/2024 19:19: On the evening of February 10, the car of 48-year-old Alexey Ovchinnikov was stopped on the way back from hunting. A high-ranking official began to be rude to traffic police officers, announced his status and threatened to force the dismissal of law enforcement officers: “I f*** such complaints about you, you f*** you!” — Insert K.ru
The next day, as Baza notes, operatives examined the territory of a hunting base in the Pervomaisky district of the region […].
@breakingmash, 02/12/2024 10:22: The police went to look at the hunting area and found 3 heads and 99 pieces of artiodactyl carcasses that were just lying in a heap. In addition to meat, officers found and seized from the scene: a Hova-1500 7.62 mm carbine, a Yamaha snowmobile with a semi-trailer, a thermal imager and a cutting saw. A criminal case has been opened regarding illegal hunting. — Insert K.ru
The head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Alexander Khinshtein, after the publication of the video, said that the minister “will now have to understand that he will inevitably become an ex.” “Such arrogant behavior, with a sense of permissiveness, discredits the honor of all representatives of power, including mine. I do not want to be associated with people who: a) grossly violate the laws of the Russian Federation (*country sponsor of terrorism); b) waving ksivami – I thought such things had long since disappeared from Rus’; c) well, in general, let’s be honest, with people who are ill-mannered and unpleasant,” the official explained.
I am not me and the carcass is not mine
Explanatory note by Alexey Ovchinnikov
Original of this material
© Ministry of Health of the Tambov Region02/14/2024
I am Alexey Ovchinnikov ВладимировичActing Minister of Health of the Government of the Tambov Region, in light of the information of the last few days that has appeared in a number of media and TV channels regarding me, I consider it necessary to state the following and explain point by point what actually happened:
1. I did not violate the laws of our country
2. I did not take part in the illegal hunting of any animals during the time attributed to me
3. On the day off, February 10, 2024, I actually went hunting, but there was no hunting itself. I did not fire a single shot from my personal gun during the period attributed to me, which is confirmed by the examination. I have an official permit for hunting weapons
4. In the evening, on the way back, several police cars, for no apparent reason, forced my personal car to stop. It was not me who was driving, but my friend
5. I voluntarily, at the request of the police officers, opened the trunk of my personal car for inspection, since I have nothing to hide.
6. Certain measures taken by the police against me continued right on the road in the cold for several hours
7. Despite the lack of complaints against me, I agreed to voluntarily go to the police station. I spent a few more hours there, until about 1:00 am. During this time, my car was examined again, and the gun was seized for ballistic examination. No charges or other legal claims were brought against me
8. Unfortunately, I have to report that my phone was taken away from me in a rather rude manner, also without explanation, about which I have already written a complaint to the prosecutor’s office
9. Spending many hours at the police station, refusing to explain the reasons for my detention, caused a sharp deterioration in my health: increased blood pressure and a sharp increase in blood sugar. I recently underwent two heart bypass operations, and as a doctor, I suspected a hypertensive crisis. As a result, I called an ambulance and was hospitalized with a diagnosis of hypertensive crisis
10. I understand that my emotional and physical state is not an excuse for my behavior.
11. Separately, I consider it necessary to state that, having looked at the video made by police cameras published today, I admit that I was wrong. I raised my voice and spoke in an inappropriate tone. I’m ashamed. I apologize to everyone who knows me, my colleagues and employees. Separately, I would like to apologize to the police officers with whom I behaved inappropriately, in a number of cases using profanity
12. In the current situation, due to inappropriate behavior, I decided to resign at my own request
13. I will be glad to continue to serve Russia (*aggressor country) and the Tambov region and be useful as a doctor
14. After completing all legal activities, I am considering the possibility, as before, of going on a business trip to new territories to treat people.
Best regards, A.V. Ovchinnikov
