HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE OF PROSECUTORIAL SUPERVISION IN THE USSR: LESSONS OF TOTAL CONTROL

Abstract

This article examines the historical experience of the formation and functioning of the Soviet model of prosecutorial supervision as a mechanism for universal oversight of compliance with legal requirements in specific areas of public relations. It is established that the combination of the functions of general oversight and support for public prosecution determined the position of the prosecutor's office within the Soviet state system and ensured the possibility of interdepartmental coordination. The article describes the institution's evolution from its inception in 1917–1922 to the transformations of the late 20th century, taking into account the influence of the 1991 Concept of Judicial Reform and post-Soviet legislation on the prosecutor's office. It also examines environmental oversight practices, where the prosecutor's office acted as a complement to the institutional weaknesses of sectoral environmental protection agencies. Based on the review of scholarly discussions, the positive characteristics and limitations of the Soviet model of universal oversight are identified, and conclusions are drawn regarding the significance of this model for defining the modern limits and content of prosecutorial oversight in a state governed by the rule of law.