One after another, they came to our office in Golutvinsky Lane during the past week. They came of their own free will, as the saying goes, without waiting to be invited, with one wish: to be among us.
One came to join for the first time, while the other seemed to return from the past. He had joined our Association 18 years ago, while working in the major crimes unit of the criminal investigation department, investigating high-profile murders, including the widely reported murder of Central Bank banker and deputy chairman Kozlov.
Having joined IPA Moscow in 2008, he lost touch amid life's circumstances, but now he has returned to us with one wish: to be useful. The Association's projects resonate with him. Vitaly Usenko, a retired colonel, as he says openly, is a «cop», but I would add: a cop from God, once you hear about his past work. «We cops do not retire», Vitaly stressed, and it is difficult to disagree. In addition, he is a Master of Sport in boxing
That was simpler: we reinstated him, and he left us inspired and eager to take the most active part, having proposed several interesting ideas.
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky, having climbed to the fifth floor, had already heard about our public organisation and its sporting priorities. He had one wish: to join our ranks. Understanding that this was not exactly his field, he was somewhat anxious at the meeting: would he be accepted?.. A six-time world champion in combat sambo and a two-time European champion, known to the English and other Western fans as «The Crushing Russian»... We had already come across the name of this legendary athlete at the combat pankration tournament successfully organised by Maxim Efimov.
People increasingly come to us of their own free will. Somewhere, they have heard that there is room on our platform for everyone who wishes to benefit society by taking part in interesting projects, including those of a patriotic nature.
A sign of the times is to be together, in one line with those who share the same principles and the same views of service for the good of the Fatherland. It is service, because today not only those who remain in the ranks serve the Motherland, but also those who have left while remaining in the ranks in spirit forever. There are many of them. To put it emphatically: «cops» do not retire... «Work, brothers!» Time has chosen us.
Ivan Sardak
President of the IPA Russian Section