Scientific article

UDK 94(47).084.6
pdf-version

Dmitry V. Shorikov
master's degree, Saint Petersburg State University
(Saint Petersburg, Russia),
schorikoff.dima@yandex.ru

Militia Activities in the Second Half of the 1920s and Early 1930s: A Study of Soviet and Émigré Periodicals

Scientific adviser:
Ilya S. Ratkovsky
Reviewer:
Ivan V. Savitskii
Paper submitted on: 06/10/2026;
Accepted on: 06/27/2026;
Published online on: 06/27/2026.
 Abstract. Drawing on Soviet and émigré periodicals from the second half of the 1920s to the early 1930s, and cross-referencing them with materials from the Central State Archive of St. Petersburg and the Central State Archive of Historical and Political Documents of St. Petersburg, this study traces the evolution of the militia image from extensive criticism of official abuses (drunkenness, bribery, personnel shortage) to an ideologized scheme that attributed these problems to a "foreign element". By the early 1930s, critical materials had almost disappeared, giving way to class-based rhetoric. The study shows that the émigré press, unlike the Soviet press, retained critical coverage and served as an important source of verification.
Keywords: Soviet militia, periodicals of the 1920s and 1930s, representation of law enforcement agencies, content analysis of newspaper publications, official deviations, daily routine of law enforcement agencies

For citation: Shorikov, D. V. Militia Activities in the Second Half of the 1920s and Early 1930s: A Study of Soviet and Émigré Periodicals. StudArctic forum. 2026, 11 (2): 66–77.

References

Skilyagin A., Lesov V., et al. Cases and people of the Leningrad militia: historical essays. Leningrad, Lenizdat, 1967, 376 p. (In Russ.)

Eropkin M.I. Development of militia bodies in the Soviet state. Moscow, Higher School of the USSR Ministry for the Preservation of Public Order, 1967, 87 p. (In Russ.)

Zaitsev P.F. Workers and Peasants' Militia. Moscow, Vlast sovetov, 1930, 45 p. (In Russ.)

Ivanov K.D., Sedunov A.V. Personnel of law enforcement agencies in North-West Russia in the 1920s. Vestnik of the St. Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, 2005, No. 2(26), pp. 92–96. (In Russ.)

Kiselev I.F. Ten years of the Workers and Peasants’ Militia. Administrativniy vestnik, 1927, No. 10–11, pp. 29–35. (In Russ.)

Kozlobaev G.A. Methods of forming the image of the police in public and private media in 2000–2009. StudArctic Forum, 2022, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 17-24. (In Russ.)

Kozlobaev G.A. The image of Karelian police in Karelian periodicals of 1960–1990. StudArctic Forum, 2024, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 49-61. (In Russ.)

Fesenko L.P., ed. People of duty and courage: in 2 books. Moscow, DOSAAF Publishing House, 1983, Book 1, 399 p. (In Russ.)

Patrash N.V. Criminal liability for infant homicide: court practice in the 1920s. Law and Legislation, 2025, No. 9, pp. 29–32. (In Russ.)

Ratkovsky I.S. Red terror and the activity of the Cheka in 1918. St. Petersburg, Saint Petersburg State University, 2006, 279 p. (In Russ.)

Skipskiy G.A. To the question of reforms of activity of bodies of NKVD of RSFSR, carried out by V.N. Tolmachev in 1928–1930. Bulletin of Economic Security, 2020, No. 3, pp. 44–49. (In Russ.)

Tokarevа S.N. To the question of combating crime in the USSR in the 1930-ies. History: Facts and Symbols, 2016, No. 2(7), pp. 132–139. (In Russ.)

Displays: 132; Downloads: 43;

Продолжая использовать данный сайт, Вы даете согласие на обработку файлов Cookies и других пользовательских данных, в соответствии с Политикой конфиденциальности.