MOSCOW — When a police officer posted a video on YouTube complaining of rampant abuse in Russian law enforcement, it seemed like a lonely voice in a sea of social media.

Since then, three more officers have come forward with their own YouTube videos making similar accusations — and others are lining up to do the same.

In a country where the rule of law is weak and most traditional media are under government control, social media sites are gaining a role as a place where fed-up citizens can broadcast their grievances.

But in the case of the YouTube cops, things may not be as simple as they seem: The unusual burst of whistle-blowing follows pledges from the Kremlin to clean up Russia’s notoriously corrupt police force — and some suspect the Internet campaign may even have sprung from within the halls of power.

A grainy low-resolution video posted last week showed a fair-haired, nervous-looking police officer sitting on a shabby couch saying he promised to jail an innocent man in return for a promotion.

Maj. Alexey Dymovsky, a disgruntled officer from the southern port city of Novorossiisk, started the trend with two YouTube pleas in which he said his bosses forced him to falsely report that unsolved cases had been cracked.

He also said he divorced twice because his wives could not cope with his long hours and low pay.

“I am fighting for the truth,” he said, directly addressing Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. “I am a bit scared to address you and the whole country … but I can’t do it any other way.”

Dymovsky’s postings got 700,000 hits by Monday — the day when he was fired and threatened with a lawsuit for slander. However, the Interior Ministry ordered an investigation into his allegations, and Dymovsky’s example quickly found followers.

By Thursday night, three more YouTube pleas decried abuses, trumped-up convictions and corruption.

In two separate clips, ex-deputy prosecutor Grigory Chekalin and former police Maj. Mikhail Yevseyev claimed two innocent men were sentenced to life in prison for a 2005 arson in the northwestern city of Ukhta that killed 25. Yevseyev also alleged Ukhta police fabricated charges against local businessmen in return for bribes from their rivals.

Both resigned after the defendants were convicted.

In another posting, Moscow traffic policeman Vadim Smirnov claimed he was forced to resign after joining a trade union.

The head of Moscow’s Police Trade Union, Mikhail Pashkov, told The Associated Press at least another 10 policemen have asked him to help record and post their grievances online.