On August 18, 140 years have passed since the establishment of the Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Empire.

On August 18, 1880, a central body was created that managed all political and criminal police in the country until the February Revolution of 1917. This event marked an important milestone in the history of internal affairs agencies in Russia, as the previously fragmented system of various types of police acquired a unified structure.

Without the Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it is difficult to imagine not only the imperial but also the Soviet system of internal affairs agencies, which adopted the main principles and methods of operation. Among the department's achievements were the creation of security and detective divisions, investigation points, the introduction of forensics (dactyloscopy, anthropometry, judicial-police photography), the development of modern encryption and cryptography systems, the creation of the first registries of criminals, an extensive network of secret agents and surveillance, the organization of foreign agents to monitor Russian political emigration, the establishment of the first business contacts and cooperation with police forces of various countries, the publication of the first specialized police journal "Police Herald," and the introduction of dogs into police service.

During its 115 years of existence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Empire saw its employees awarded numerous state honors. For example, the highest award of the Russian Empire, the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, was awarded to 22 high-ranking officials of the ministry, although few received the award for police activities. Among them were the head of the gendarmerie A. K. Benckendorff, the governor-general of Moscow D. V. Golitsyn, and ministers of internal affairs L. A. Perovsky, S. S. Lansky, and D. A. Tolstoy.

Notable figures such as I. S. Turgenev, A. I. Herzen, and M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin served in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is part of the ensemble of Lomonosov Square and occupies a vast area between the Fontanka River embankment and the passage to the former Shchukin Market, now Trade Lane.