January 12 - Day of the Prosecutor's Office: history, traditions, congratulations

Every year on January 12, employees of the Russian Prosecutor's Office celebrate their professional holiday. This supervisory body has existed in our country for over 320 years and traces its history back to the times of Peter the Great, who established it to "destroy injustice, bribery and lawlessness". In 2025 the celebration falls on Sunday. On the history of the creation of the department and the traditions of celebration read in the material "Izvestia".

Day of the Prosecutor's Office on January 12

Day of the employee of the Prosecutor's office was established by the President of Russia in 1995. As the date was chosen January 12 - the day of the signing of Peter I in 1722 decree on the establishment of the post of Prosecutor General to monitor compliance with the law and protect the interests of states in court. The first Procurator General in the country was an associate of Peter the Great Pavel Yaguzhinsky, the post itself was called by the Emperor the eye of the sovereign.

In 1762, by decision of Empress Catherine II, the Office of the Procurator General was authorized to manage justice and the state treasury. During the reform of the authorities, which was carried out by Emperor Alexander I in 1802, the post of Procurator-General was merged with the head of the Senate and existed in this status until the revolution.

In November 1917, after the adoption of the "Decree on Court No. 1", the functions of the prosecutor's office in Soviet Russia were transferred to the people's courts and revolutionary tribunals. In 1922, a subdivision of the People's Commissariat of Justice was formed, and in 1923 - the Prosecutor's Office of the Supreme Court of the USSR, which functioned as the highest instance in the judicial system of the state. It was to monitor the observance of legality in the judiciary, and also received the right of legislative initiative.

In 1933, the USSR Prosecutor's Office was established, which was given supervision over all ministries, departments, drug committees, Supreme Soviets of Union republics, security agencies, police and places of deprivation of liberty.

With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War and the country's transition to martial law, the ranks of prosecutors and investigators were equated to military (officer) ranks, and the employees of the supervisory body were given uniforms. In 1979, the USSR adopted the Law on the Prosecutor's Office, according to which the agency was given the function of coordinating the activities of all law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a reform was carried out that abolished the USSR Prosecutor's Office. In its place, a new supervisory body was established by the Federal Law "On the Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation" of 1992. In 2011, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation was separated from the structure of the agency, to which the function of investigating criminal cases was transferred. And administrative investigations and prosecutor's inspections remained in the jurisdiction of the Prosecutor's Office.

How to celebrate the Day of the Prosecutor's Office in Russia in 2025

Due to the specifics of the department, the holiday has an official character. In the central and regional departments of the prosecutor's office solemn meetings are held, at which the results of the year are summarized, distinguished employees and veterans of the service are awarded.

On this day, ceremonies are traditionally held to lay flowers at the monuments of prosecutors who died in the performance of their official duties. Thematic lectures, exhibitions and excursions on the history of the Procurator's Office are also organized. The media publishes articles and interviews devoted to representatives of the profession.

Congratulations on Prosecutor's Day

On this day, congratulations are accepted by current employees of the prosecutor's office - from the highest ranks to junior staff, as well as veterans of the service, students and teachers of specialized universities. "Izvestia" prepared several examples of congratulations:

"Dear employees of the prosecutor's office! Please accept my sincere congratulations on your professional holiday! Your work is the guarantee of justice, law and order and security in our country. We wish you health, fortitude and success in your service".

"We congratulate you on the Day of the Prosecutor's Office! On this festive day we thank you for your devotion to duty, integrity and reliability. We wish you good health, new successes in your responsible work and happiness in your personal life!".

"Dear employees of the Prosecutor's Office, on your professional holiday, please accept our gratitude for the fact that you always stand guard over the law and justice. Let your efforts bring peace and order, life is happy with pleasant moments and warmth of loved ones. Success to you in all your endeavors!".

Earlier "Izvestia" told about the history and traditions of celebrating the FSB Day in Russia.