Political investigation and secret order during the Reign of Alexei Mikhailovich

The purpose of this article is to explore issues related to political sleuthing in the Moscow state in the 17th century. Based on a number of sources, the activities of the first body of the political police in Russia, the Secret Order (the Order of Secret Affairs), are analyzed. The object of the study is the state policy during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich in terms of ensuring state security and combating state crimes. The subject of the study is regulatory legal acts related to the detection, suppression, investigation of state crimes in the specified era, as well as other sources related to the establishment and functioning of the Secret Order. Within the framework of the research methodology using historical-legal, comparative-legal and comparative-historical methods, the analysis of the activities of the Secret Order in the period 1656-1676 was carried out. The reasons for the creation of the Secret Order are indicated, the structure of this state body, its functions, ways and means of carrying out activities are described. In particular, it shows the procedure for investigating cases of the "word and deed of the sovereign", the interaction of the Secret Order with other bodies and institutions that performed police functions. Examples of investigative activities of the order are given. The role and significance of the Secret Order in ensuring state security and the further formation of political police bodies in pre-revolutionary Russia are outlined.