Formation of the investigator’s institute in Russia: a historical-legal analysis of its development

The article is dedicated to a comprehensive examination of the formation of the investigative institution in Russia, based on a historical and legal analysis. It meticulously explores the stages of the establishment of investigative bodies, tracing their evolution from the creation of Major Investigation Chanceries under Peter I, which served as precursors to modern investigative divisions, to the institutionalization of judicial investigation in the 19th century. Particular attention is paid to the Judicial Reform of 1864, which significantly influenced the strengthening of the legal status of investigators and the consolidation of their procedural autonomy. Changes that occurred in the 20th century are analyzed, especially the transfer of powers to conduct preliminary investigations to the prosecutor’s office. A separate section is devoted to the post-Soviet period, including reforms related to the adoption of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation in 2001. The article examines legal acts regulating the status, functions, and powers of the investigator and assesses the institutional reforms shaping the modern model of preliminary investigation in Russia.