Registered Cossacks of Russia

Representatives of the most independent ethno-social culture in Russia, bearing the proud name of Cossacks, have a long and glorious history. For hundreds of years their special culture, way of life, concepts and rules developed. Back in the XIX century, the Cossack communities were divided into two groups: those who did not tolerate power over themselves and lived according to their own laws, and those who preferred official government service received wages and acted according to a special statute. The last is usually called register.

History

In Rus, the Cossack communities were regarded as independent military settlements that were located on the outskirts of the country, on the adjacent territory with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and other uninhabited areas. Ethnological composition evolved gradually, in free communities came runaway slaves, criminals or people in search of a better life.

Back in the 17th century, the government demanded loyalty from the Cossacks and carrying out military service, which led to major uprisings, sometimes threatening even the imperial power (Pugachev's revolt). Subsequently, this estate received special civil rights, leaving them the opportunity to have their own lands and establish their own culture there, but at the same time being in the civil service and obeying the head of state.

Not all agreed with this way of life, some unions did not want to be in someone's subordination, developing their norms of life and behavior. And today there are still big differences between public and registered Cossacks, the Government's initiative to revive this movement in Russia has generated a lot of controversy in the two opposing camps.

Modern History

The Soviet government applied very harsh measures towards the Cossacks, after the Civil War, representatives of this ethnos were subjected to repression, links, derogation of property rights and nationality. The revival of the people begins with the decrees of the President of the Russian Federation in 1992 on the rehabilitation of repressed peoples.

Two years later, the Government establishes the concept of a new state policy aimed at strengthening the country's security, including by reviving the Cossacks. There was agitation among the population, the official service promised a number of privileges and a special status.

Finally, the registered Cossacks of Russia received a normative basis for their activities in 1998, when a list of associations included in this category was formed. This list is often criticized by the public, so many emphasize that most of those who chose to work for the Kremlin are not related to the Cossacks, since even under B. Yeltsin, the estate was allowed to join anyone.

Legislative basis

The right to public service is available only to those people who belong to one of the communities registered in the register. All activities of the Cossacks have a strict legislative base, the key documents is the Federal Law of 05.12.2005 "On the Civil Service of the Russian Cossacks". It defines the definition of special communities, the procedure for their organization and entry into the official registration.

In order to obtain state recognition and the corresponding status, the registered Cossacks or their associations must submit the following documents to the executive authorities:

• The charter of the community adopted by the people's assembly, certified by the local administration;
• List of villages, farms or cities that are part of the established organization;
• Consent of all members of the general meeting;
• List of registered Cossacks, capable and ready to carry public service.

To date, eleven army societies have been registered, most of them were formed in the period from 1996 to 1998. In addition, there are four Cossack districts - the North-West with headquarters in St. Petersburg, the Baltic (Kaliningrad), Sevastopol and the Crimean.

Types of civil service

Many are still skeptical of the state's attempt to tame the Cossack unions, regulate their social and propaganda activities. Independent representatives of the estate consider this to be just a way of planting patriotic views in the country, the desire to subordinate a fairly serious military association of supreme power.

But there are also positive aspects of the civil service, which are confirmed even by public unions. This is official employment, financial support, benefits, special treatment. The government decree of 26.02.2010 establishes the following types of civil service where registered Cossacks can work:

• Organization of military-patriotic education of conscripts, keeping records of members of the community;
• The implementation of law enforcement activities, if necessary, participation in the elimination of emergencies;
• Protection of Russia's borders, support for law and order, prevention and combating of the terrorist threat;
• Protection of forests and fauna, engaging in environmental issues;
• Ensuring the safety of objects of national importance, representing historical and cultural value.

Military service

Clear determination in what duties should be maintained by the registered Cossacks of the Russian Federation, is still not there. First of all, questions arise with the performance of military service, for example, in the interim government decree, the point was made that representatives of this class can not organize armed formations. At the same time, the main regulating law of 2005 determines that:

1. Cossacks contribute to the spiritual and patriotic education of recruits, conducts training of reserve soldiers.
2. Cossacks can be brought in for disaster relief, natural disasters and for participation in civil defense.
3. Ensure the observance of public law and order.

Since 2011, the registered Cossacks for military service went to special military units, where the order adopted in their class was maintained. But this initiative did not justify itself, such regiments never became Cossacks, and in 2014 such a special appeal was canceled.

In recent years, there has been a practice of using Cossack troops to carry out security functions, special militia groups are being set up, PSCs that, like MVD employees, monitor the order, detain persons who violated the law.

Modern device

The emergence of legal regulation of the civil service was received by the Cossacks with enthusiasm. For many years they had no opportunity to pay their debt to the Motherland, and now representatives of the estate were included in the work of maintaining law and order, investigating crimes and fighting terrorism throughout the country. Photos of the registered Cossacks demonstrate their activity in the public life of the country: they were participants in military parades, patriotic marches or charity events.

There is a clear separation of the types of associations, established already in the first provision for the creation of a register, a special hierarchy.

1. The regulatory body is the Council under the President of the Russian Federation.
2. Military Cossack communities.
3. District and separate.
4. District and yurt (introduced in 2005).
5. Stanitsa, farmstead, city.

In addition to officially registered bodies, there are several unions operating in Russia, including registered Cossacks. At general gatherings, the issue of electing new atamans, rewarding and encouraging those who have shown themselves, and important social issues are discussed.

Marks of Excellence

According to the Federal Law, only Cossacks in the civil service can have ranks, special ranks and shoulder straps. The order of wearing insignia and uniforms was established by decree of 10.02.2010 No. 169 and 10.12.2010 No. 171. And before the rank of the captain, the ranks are appropriated by the community ataman or troops, and already above - the plenipotentiary representative of the President of the Russian Federation or the head of state himself.

In the decrees of the Government, the definition for the insignia is not clearly spelled out, so that each region establishes its own rules regarding the shape and type of epaulettes. There is the following list of ranks:

1. Lower: the Cossack, the orderly, the junior sergeant, the sergeant, the senior sergeant, the younger sergeant-major, the sergeant-major, the senior sergeant.
2. The older and the higher: the podhorunzhi, the chorus, the centurion, the captain, the captain, the army sergeant-major, the Cossack colonel, the Cossack general.

Members of public organizations have no right to wear any insignia, among them there is a different distribution of power, according to the old traditions of the people.

Appearance

Cossacks try to preserve the customs of their ancestors, especially in clothes, although with the inclusion of them in civil servants, the form itself has changed a lot, the established order of wearing has appeared. Each community has special distinctive features in the outward appearance of its members.

In 2010, edicts were issued about the shape of the registered Cossacks. There are the following categories:

• on every day;
• Marching;
• Front exit;
• The front line;
• Special ceremonial.

All these decisions to a partial extent duplicate the legislative base of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Armed Forces, although the Cossack troops do not have the same rights as these structures. Their activities are to a greater extent in the feasible assistance of law enforcement officers.

Conditions for admission

In connection with the massive rise of the patriotic spirit of the Russian population, the question of how to become a registered Cossack increasingly arises. Selection in the ranks of this special class is very demanding, the candidate must live for several years in this region and positively recommend himself.

The applicant is given a probationary period during which he participates in meetings without the right to vote, studies the statutes. The final question on including a candidate in the list of registered Cossacks is decided by a majority vote, and a special certificate is issued to him. True, its form is not clearly stipulated, so that in the regions you can find different samples of this document.

Cossacks and Orthodoxy

Christian standards and representations today are at the head of all the principles of the Russian Cossacks, even in the years of repression, exile and exile, the people tried to preserve the foundations of their faith. Therefore, the revival in the nineties of this class was closely connected with the Church and its influence.

The Orthodox faith is the foundation for all representatives of this ethnos, in spite of disagreements between public and registered Cossacks, rituals and holidays are strictly observed by them. One of the most important goals of the enlightenment activity of the communities is precisely the resurrection of Christian traditions among the youth, the education of persistent moral principles.

Problems

The settlement of the issue of the development of the Cossacks in the Russian Federation is under the direct leadership of the President, but there are still many unresolved issues. This concerns disagreements in the ideology of public and state organizations, the first are for preserving the democratic charters within the associations, others insist on compulsory service to the country.

Those who closely know the customs of this people are often interested in the question of whether a registered Cossack should receive a salary. What is service - duty or work? Usually financial reward is given to them for patrolling the streets, participating in rescue or military operations, and the amount of payments, for example, in the Kuban region for the vigilantes is 21-25 thousand rubles. Recently it was allowed to create Cossack PPs to protect private and municipal institutions.

Opponents of the registry system point to federal allocations as a way of monitoring and guaranteeing the fulfillment of orders from above, noting the development of corruption among the heads of military units. The elders look with displeasure at the fact that the Cossacks are being used for political purposes. All these contradictions have yet to be resolved or smoothed, so that a worthy people will not lose their roots and traditions.