to the new Department of Police. Following the 1902 assassination of MVD Minister Dmitry Sergeyevich Sipyagin, the state security authorities of the Gendarmerie Directorates was transferred to the Okhrana and counterintelligence units of the General Staff and the Department of Police. Disbandment During the February 1917 Russian Revolution, Gendarmes stationed at Kronstadt remained loyal to the tsarist regime, fired on demonstrators and were later imprisoned for trial. On the Corps of Gendarmes was formally abolished by the order of the Provisional Committee of the State Duma, along with the regular tsarist police. Directors Alexander von Benckendorff (1826–1844, its founder and first chief) Vasily Andreyevich Dolgorukov (?–?) Aleksandr Potapov (1861–1864) Pyotr Andreyevich Shuvalov (1866–?) Alexander Drenteln (1878–1880) Pyotr Dmitrievich Sviatopolk-Mirskii (1900–1905) Ranks and uniforms The Gendarmes used cavalry ranks of the Russian military ranks system introduced in 1826. Most branches of the Separate Corps wore light blue uniforms in contrast to the dark green of the regular army and police. Gendarmes of the Railroad Directorates were, however, distinguished by dark blue tunics. Rank insignia 1884-1907 Commissioned officer ranks Other ranks See also Jailbirds of Kerensky Ministry of Police of Imperial Russia National Guard of Russia Police Department of Russia Internal Troops References Further reading Political police and political terrorism in Russia (second half of XIX – beginning of XX). Collection of documents. Compiled by V.I. Kochanov, N.N. Parfyonova, M.V. Sidorova, Ye. I. Sherbakova. Moscow, AIRO-XX (2000). . External links Official history of the MVD of Russia: 1825–1856 1857–1879 1880–1904 1905–1916 Branches of the secret services of the Russian Empire Corps of the Russian Empire Defunct law enforcement agencies of Russia Defunct military provosts Military units and formations disestablished in 1917 Military units and formations established in 1836 1836 establishments in the Russian Empire