Russia to set up military police

Russia announced Friday the establishment of a military police service within its Armed Forces.

According to Mikhail Sorokin, a member of the defense and security committee of the Russian Federation Council, the decision was adopted Thursday "in compliance with the defense minister's directive."

Sorokin did not give any details such as the size of the new force as the discussion was held Thursday at a closed-door session of the defense committee of the State Duma, the Interfax news agency reported.

Russian media earlier reported that some 20,000 personnel would be involved, the majority of them reservists.

Russian authorities have long intended to create the military police, but the plans have not been realized so far.

Source: Xinhua