Web video triggers Russian investigation

NOVOROSSIISK, Russia, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- A police department in southern Russia will be investigated after a critical video by a local police officer was posted on a Web site, officials said.

In the video, a police major identified as Alexei Dymovsky accused his superiors in the Novorossiisk police of corruption in a statement he addressed to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, RIA Novosti reported Sunday.

A commission to investigate the charges would begin work on Monday, the Russian Interior Ministry announced.

Dymovsky claimed department chiefs made officers "solve" non-existent crimes to improve statistics. He also charged that staff had no sick leave or days off, and that young officers knew their 12,000 ruble ($413) monthly wage would be augmented by "tributes."

The Novorossiisk police department said Dymovsky has been put on sick leave. He should have discussed the problems inside of his unit instead of "bringing them to the Web and tarnishing the image of Novorossiisk police," the department said.