From time immemorial, ensuring the protection of state secrets has been the primary task of the authorities of any country. Indeed, in almost all modern powers there is information labeled “state secret”. This specific legal regime is simply necessary if government officials are interested in ensuring stability and security in the country. But secrecy of information is protected not only through the introduction of a special legal regime. The primary role is played by special bodies that are authorized to ensure the protection of information having a particular level of secrecy.
It is also worth noting the fact that this kind of information is very often used in the process of state activity. Taking into account the development of information technologies in the 21st century, it is necessary to ensure the security of access to classified information, the process of its exchange between special bodies, as well as to prevent violation of the legal regime of secrecy when working with this kind of information.
The implementation of the functions presented in the Russian Federation is entirely vested in a special executive body, which is called the courier service. In the article we will consider the features, structure and legal framework of this department.
The concept of courier service
The State Courier Service of the Russian Federation is a special body of executive power, the main function of which is to provide courier communication. In simple terms, this department ensures the transfer of classified documents between authorized entities, which leads to another name for the department - the Special Couriers Service. The term "courier" itself stands for "military or government courier."
In this case, we are talking about a professional structure that is entrusted with the performance of serious functions of national importance. The courier service is one of the few departments whose activities are directly regulated by the President of the Russian Federation. It has a fairly rich history, which dates back to the beginning of the 20th century.
History of Courier Service
Many citizens of the Russian Federation are not aware of the existence of such a department as a courier service. What is it and what is the task of the service, help to understand the history of the department. The very first courier units were created on the territory of Russia during the time of Emperor Paul I. By his decrees he created the corps of courier couriers, which was supposed to ensure the delivery of especially securities, safe escort of senior persons. Thus, the corps was engaged not only in the protection of state secrets, but also in the provision of “personal security” services. A little later, in the 19th century, courier service arose in Germany. Modern courier units in Germany operate on the basis of a decree of 1956. As for Russia, the tasks of the department, as well as some of its features, were modified in Soviet times.
Courier service in the USSR
Soviet courier units have been preparing since 1918. Despite the past revolution, the new government realized that without organizing special transportation of classified information within the state, it would simply be impossible to achieve the desired goals. The particular importance of the department is emphasized by interest in it from the authorities.
Already in 1939, courier units were reorganized and divided. A special department of the courier service appeared in the NKVD, which was engaged in the delivery of the most important correspondence and documents. As for local authorities that did not have a republican status, delivery to them was carried out by the forces of the People’s Commissariat communications. Values ​​and money were transported and delivered by the collection service of the USSR State Bank . It follows that the courier service performs the most important tasks aimed at transporting classified documents and other state values. Already in the 1980s, the department acquired the features of the modern service of courier couriers in the Russian Federation.
Federal courier service: tasks today
As we understand it, in the 21st century the service presented has changed the scope of its activities. This is due to the transformation of the transmitted classified information, as well as the very principles of the activities of couriers. To date, the state courier service of the Russian Federation performs a number of the following tasks:
- Delivery of correspondence at all levels of secrecy.
- Delivery of correspondence from the heads of foreign countries, as well as official ambassadors (representatives) of these countries.
- Delivery of correspondence from representatives of international organizations.
- Control and direct management of bodies included in the structure of the Courier Service of the Russian Federation.
The presented list of functions is the main one, however, there are other, no less important tasks. It should be noted that the delivery of secret correspondence, not related to information from the heads and representatives of foreign powers, has a certain subjective composition. In other words, delivery by the courier service is subject to information provided by certain authorities.
Bodies whose correspondence is to be delivered by couriers
Among the bodies (services), the secret correspondence of which is always delivered by couriers, include:
- President of Russian Federation;
- the prosecutor's office of the Russian Federation;
- government bodies, federal government bodies;
- administration of military and secret industrial facilities;
- Ministry of the Interior of the Russian Federation;
- Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation;
- Federal Security Service;
- Federal Security Service.
If at least one of these bodies is one of the entities in the transfer of classified information, then delivery is carried out by the state courier service of the Russian Federation.
SFS rights
To fulfill the assigned tasks, the state courier service of the Russian Federation enjoys special rights. At the same time, some of the capabilities of the SFS are significantly wider and greater than other bodies and services of the Russian Federation. This situation is due, first of all, to the fact that the Courier Service of the Russian Federation, or rather its personnel, has direct contact with classified information at various levels. Thus, the service has the following rights:
- Deliver secret correspondence to important government officials both on the territory of the Russian Federation and abroad.
- Transport secret correspondence by all means of transport without inspection and detention.
- When transporting correspondence, personnel are allowed to use any types of weapons, special means and physical force.
- The courier service transport is “special”. This means that it cannot be used by other bodies for their own purposes without the consent of the SFS.
Thus, the courier service has the status of a paramilitary organization of the Russian Federation, which stipulates the exclusive right to use physical force, special means and firearms.
Legal basis of activity
Like other special services of the Russian Federation, courier units in their work rely on existing federal legislation. Undoubtedly, the Constitution of the Russian Federation is the key act that regulates not only couriers, but also the legal system of the state as a whole.
This main normative act of the state regulates the activities of couriers in such a way that they do not violate the rights and freedoms of man and citizen in the performance of the functions assigned to them. Also, the legal basis for the activities of the courier service is formed by:
- Federal Law "On the Federal Courier Communication".
- Regulation “On the State Courier Service of the Russian Federation”.
These two documents allow you to answer the question of an ordinary citizen: "Courier service - what is it?"
In addition, in its work, the SFS uses decrees of the President of the Russian Federation, decrees of the Government of the Russian Federation, and other normative acts of the highest bodies of state power that directly relate to the activities of the courier service.
Courier Service Structure
For efficient and high-quality fulfillment of the tasks set, the structure of the courier service includes subdivisions of the central apparatus, territorial bodies, departments in large cities. Each department of the courier service is located in the administrative centers of the Russian Federation, as well as in the capitals of the constituent entities of the Federation. Also, the structure of the SFS includes subordinate organizations in which representatives of the courier service are located, which is necessary for the prompt transportation of classified information. Almost every department of the state courier service has direct contact with the territorial bodies of other services, as it is the smallest and most mobile unit of the entire structure of the SFS.
HFS Special Features
There are special tasks that courier service very often performs. What it is - “special tasks” is not indicated in any legal source. Nevertheless, when analyzing the legislation, one can distinguish the following interesting function, for example, the delivery of secret correspondence to the heads of foreign states. When performing such a task, there is a risk of obtaining secret information by foreign intelligence agencies or terrorist organizations, so this function can be classified as special. The SFS also delivers election documents during the election of the President of the Russian Federation, deputies of the State Duma, representatives of other government bodies of the Russian Federation.
Conclusion
So, we examined the main functions, powers, rights, and also defined the concept of "courier service". What it is is described in more detail in key regulations governing the work of the SFS.