Cossacks may start patrolling Moscow streets this fall

The ataman (chieftain) of the Central Cossack Force Valery Nalimov believes that Cossacks may start patrolling Moscow streets this fall. Cossack police may be introduced in Moscow and 17 other regions in central Russia. Nalimov noted that he was negotiating the idea with Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, Plenipotentiary Presidential Envoy to the Central Federal District Alexander Beglov. He expects approval before October 20, RIA Novosti reports.

The Krasnodar Territory became the first Russian region to be patrolled by Cossacks. They started patrolling 44 municipalities of the region on September 1. They caught over 100 violators and three suspects and returned 35 lost children on the very first day of patrolling.

Cossacks were authorized to prevent violations and demand checking of IDs.

1000 Cossacks started patrolling the Krasnodar Territory on September 1. Additional 250 will start patrolling in October.

Russian lawmakers approved amendments to the law on civil assistance for law enforcement and the law on additional measures of social protection by Cossack communities of the Kuban Cossack Society. Cossacks obey their atamans and may only patrol under supervision of a police officer.

The Central Cossack Force was formed on December 10, 1994, as an interregional formation. It was officially registered as a Cossack society on April 17, 2009. It was put on the list of Cossack registries of Russia on October 5, 2010. The force consists of 4 Cossack district societies, 14 sectorial, 3 yurt, 24 city, 79 village, 106 khutor and one district Cossack communities. This is a total of 231 Cossack organizations. There are a total of 79,700 Cossacks, including their family members.