PETRINE REFORMS AND THE PROTECTION OF PUBLIC ORDER IN RUSSIA IN THE 1720S–1760S

The article is devoted to the history of the formation of the police in 18th century Russia. Despite a significant number of works devoted to this topic, some issues related to the history of the emergence and functioning of police structures in the Russian Empire remain understudied. The analysis of historiography demonstrates that the problem of the introduction of police authorities throughout the country has not received adequate coverage. The article aims at identifying the extent and foundations of the functioning of the police structures created because of Peter I’s transformations. The study was based on the normative legal acts of the mid-17th — first quarter of the 18th century, as well as the records of the regional authorities in the 1720s–1750s. A comparative comparison of the texts of the legislative acts of the Moscow state of the second half of the 17th century, devoted to the protection of law and order, and Peter I’s legislation enables to conclude that they were similar in content, but differed in the rhetoric used. The paperwork documents showed that police officers did not operate in all administrative centers. It was not until 1733 that a decree was issued on the establishment of police chief’s offices in all governorate and several provincial cities. In the settlements that had fortifications, the police functions continued to be performed by the city officials. In addition, representatives from community structures were actively involved in law enforcement activities. It is noteworthy that the instructions to the city officials and the elected representatives of the communities were based on the provisions of the new legislative acts. Thus, there is continuity in the organization of the police in 18th century Russia. The new structures, built on the basis of the ideas of a regular state, were inevitably based on the foundations of the Moscow state’s security system.