The Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation

The Russian Prosecution Service was founded on January 12, 1722 by the Highest Decree of Emperor Peter I (Peter the Great).

The Prosecution Service of the Russian Federation is a uniform federal centralized system of bodies supervising, on behalf of the Russian Federation, observance of the Constitution of the Russian Federation and implementation of the Russian laws. The Prosecution Service of the Russian Federation also performs other functions prescribed by federal laws. The powers, organization and procedures of the activities of the Prosecution Service of the Russian Federation are defined by Federal Law N 2202-1 “On Public Prosecution Service of the Russian Federation” dated January 17, 1992.

The Prosecution Service performs its functions independently from other state authorities.

The coat of arms of the Russian Prosecution Service

In order to ensure the rule of law, unity and strengthening of legality, protection of rights and freedoms of individuals and of the public and state interests, guarded by law, the Prosecution Office of the Russian Federation shall:

• supervise implementation of laws by federal ministries, state committees, services and other relevant federal executive authorities, representative (legislative) and executive authorities of the constituencies of the Russian Federation, local government authorities, military commands, controlling bodies, their officials, bodies exercising state control over human rights in places of custody, regulatory authorities and heads of profit and non-profit organizations and also conformity of legal acts issued by them with the laws;
• supervise observance of human rights and freedoms by federal ministries, state committees, services and other relevant federal executive authorities, representative (legislative) and executive authorities of the constituencies of the Russian Federation, local government authorities, military commands, controlling bodies, their officials, bodies exercising state control over human rights in places of custody, regulatory authorities and heads of profit and non-profit organizations;
• supervise execution of laws by the operative and detective authorities, bodies of inquiry and preliminary investigation;
• supervise implementation of laws by bailiffs;
• supervise execution of laws by administrations of penitentiary establishments, administrations of prisons and other detention facilities;
• prosecute crimes within the competences, envisaged by the Criminal Law of the Russian Federation;
• coordinate activities of the law enforcement bodies in combating crime;
• initiate cases on administrative offenses and carry out administrative investigation in accordance with the powers, established by the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offences and other federal laws. In compliance with the procedure laws of the Russian Federation, prosecutors participate in consideration of cases by courts, arbitration courts (hereinafter referred to as the courts), challenge resolutions, sentences, rulings and decisions of the courts if they contradict the laws.

The Prosecution Service of the Russian Federation also participates in law-making activities.

The flag of the Russian Prosecution Service

The Prosecution Service of the Russian Federation is a centralized system of authorities and institutions with subordination of lower level prosecutors to higher ones and to the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation and it includes:

• The Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation;
• The prosecution services of the constituencies of the Russian Federation;
• The prosecution services of cities and districts (and other territorial prosecutor’s offices);
• Special (transport, environmental and other) Prosecutor’s Offices;
• The Chief Military Prosecutor’s Office;
• Scientific and Educational Institutions of the Prosecution Service.

The Russian system of the bodies of prosecution is headed by the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation who is appointed and discharged by the Federation Council (the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament) upon the proposal of the President of the Russian Federation. Deputy Prosecutors General of the Russian Federation (including the First Deputy, the Chief Military Prosecutor of the Russian Federation, Deputy Prosecutors General of the Russian Federation in the federal districts) are appointed and dismissed by the Federation Council upon the proposal of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation.

The structure of the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation consists of general departments (including those in the federal districts), departments, divisions as well as the Chief Military Prosecution Service.

The main building of the Prosecutor General’s Office in Moscow

Prosecutors of the constituencies are appointed by the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation in coordination with the constituencies of the Russian Federation (as a rule, with their legislative or representative bodies). Other prosecutors heading territorial and special prosecutor’s offices as well as directors (rectors) of scientific and educational establishments of the Russian Prosecution Service are appointed by the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation.

The Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation, within its competence, maintains direct communications with relevant authorities of other states and international organizations and cooperation with them takes part in the elaboration of international treaties and agreements of the Russian Federation.

The prosecutor’s bodies at all level participate in law-making activities.

From January 1, 2012 the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation is responsible for uniform state statistics and reports on offences, crime rate, crime detection, situation and outcomes of investigations and prosecutorial supervision and also establishes a uniform procedure for generating and submitting reports to the bodies of prosecution. The orders of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation on the issues of the above mentioned statistics are obligatory for state authorities concerned.

The Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation issues special publications (for example, monthly law science and practical Journal "Legality" and etc.).