ABSTRACT
Like most of the independent states that were created following the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Russian Federation is often described as a ‘country in transition’, referring to the move from a socialistbased society to one rooted in the principles of capitalism. This transition, however, is much broader than merely changing the economic system insofar as it entails a radical shift from totalitarianism to democracy, which requires an overhaul of the previously-existing system and all of its institutions, including the criminal justice system and the police. This process could never be anything but monumental, tortuous and painful, particularly given the economic, social, and political instability that characterises many countries going through a process of transition.
