Special Corps of Gendarmes

The responsibilities of the Gendarmes also included the execution of court orders, pursuit of fugitives, riot control, and detainment of "unusual" criminals.

Following the 1902 assassination of MVD Minister Dmitry Sergeyevich Sipyagin, the state security authorities of the Gendarmerie Directorates was transferred to the Okhrana and counterintelligence units of the General Staff and the Department of Police.

During the February 1917 Russian Revolution, Gendarmes stationed at Kronstadt remained loyal to the tsarist regime, fired on demonstrators and were later imprisoned for trial.

Most branches of the Separate Corps wore light blue uniforms in contrast to the dark green of the regular army and police.

The 1909–1914 dress uniforms shown opposite are derived from the detailed set of Russian Army coloured plates prepared by Colonel V.K.