Administrative and police authorities in the history of criminal proceedings in Russia

The article examines one of the most pressing issues of the modern legal system — guaranteeing the independence of the judiciary. The author argues that this problem is dialectical in nature: on the one hand, autonomy of the courts from the executive branch is essential, and on the other, their functional interaction for the effective administration of justice is inevitable. Based on a historical and legal analysis covering the period from the 9th to the late 19th century, the paper identifies three key stages in the evolution of the relationship between judicial and administrative-police bodies in Russia. The transformation from a complete fusion of powers in the Old Russian state to the formation of specialized administrative-judicial institutions in the Muscovite period, and finally, to the attempts to create an independent judicial system during the reforms of Peter I and Catherine II, is traced. Particular attention is paid to the Judicial Reform of 1864 as a radical attempt to separate the court from the administration, as well as the subsequent partial restoration of the old orders. The author concludes that the historically established model of strong executive influence on the judicial process continues to shape public stereotypes and necessitates a balanced, gradual reform of this sphere.