Russia’s military police will be instituted in two stages: first, the integration of the relevant Defense Ministry services and second, granting the new agency investigative functions, Chief Military Prosecutor Sergei Fridinsky said on Thursday.
He offered no timeframe.
Investigative functions are currently performed by unit commanders, he added.
Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov announced the creation of military police last July, their main functions being to fight rampant hazing and theft of military property.
Fridinsky warned, however, that the creation of military police is not a panacea for crime.
“Not a single country that has military police has managed to eradicate crime. In Britain, I believe military police investigate some 10,000 crimes while prosecutors handle only 3,000 or 4,000,” he said.
