Russia’s Police Force
Signs of Crisis in Times of War
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Russia exhibits many characteristics of a weak state. This is particularly evident in the police force. Poor pay and a repressive working environment in overly centralised structures lead to staff shortages. Instead of solving crimes, police officers focus on meeting quotas. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated the situation. The army attracts men with high pay, while convicted violent criminals escape punishment by going to the front. Police officers see their work devalued. Excessive violence and a collapse of the monopoly on the use of force are not a contradiction.
(Osteuropa 8-9/2025, pp. 107–114)