The OMON insignia

OMON (Russian: Отряд милиции особого назначения; Otryad Militsii Osobogo Naznacheniya, "Special Purpose Detachment of Militsiya") is a generic name for the system of special units of militsiya (state police) within the Russian and earlier the Soviet, Ministerstvo Vnutrennih Del (MVD; Ministry of Internal Affairs). There is an OMON unit in every subnational entity of Russia. The units are utilized in emergencies such as high-risk arrests, hostage crises and riots, as well as in response to acts of terrorism. OMON are often accused of rash actions and excessive and indiscriminate use of force^{[citation needed]}. OMON logo Source: http://www. ... A member of a Russian special purpose police team (OMSN), equipped with a 9A91 submachine gun. ... “CCCP” redirects here. ... Modern emblem of Russian MVD Russian Gendarme officers in the 1860s The Ministerstvo Vnutrennikh Del (MVD) (Министерство внутренних дел) was the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the imperial Russia, later USSR, and still bears the same name in the Russian Federation. ... The Chicago Police Department arrests a man An arrest is the action of the police, or person acting under the law, to take a person into custody so that they may be forthcoming to answer for the commission of a crime. ... Police often train to recover hostages taken by force, as in this exercise For the 2005 film, see Hostage (film). ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... Terrorist redirects here. ...

History

OMON personnel in Red Square, Moscow.

The history of OMON starts in 1979, when the first group was founded in preparation for the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, to ensure that there was no terrorism or hostage crisis as in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 524 pixelsFull resolution (3270 × 2142 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 524 pixelsFull resolution (3270 × 2142 pixel, file size: 1. ... For other uses, see Red Square (disambiguation). ... For the song by the Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ... Badge, released in the USSR The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, were held in Moscow in the Soviet Union. ... Location Position of Moscow in Europe Government Country District Subdivision Russia Central Federal District Federal City Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov Geographical characteristics Area  - City 1,081 km² Population  - City (2007)    - Density 10,469,000   9684. ... One of the Black September terrorists on the balcony of the Israeli team quarters at the Olympic village The Munich massacre occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage by the Palestinian organization Black September, a militant group... The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. ... Munich (German: , pronounced  ; Austro-Bavarian: Minga [1]) is the capital of the German Federal State of Bavaria. ...

OMON system itself is the successor of that group and was founded in 1987. The OMON units were initially used to control and stop demonstrations and hooliganism but later became accustomed to a wider range of police operations (even street patrolling). 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ultras at FC Twente - SC Heerenveen in 2002 Hooliganism is unruly and destructive behaviour, usually by gangs of young people. ...

OMON's ceremonial headwear is black berets although there were significant changes in uniform and insignia. The group members use black face masks while on duty. Black beret A beret (UK: , US: ; IPA) is a soft round cap with a flat crown which is worn by both men and women. ... Balaclava and gun A balaclava, balaclava helmet or ski mask is a form of headgear covering the whole head, exposing only the face (and often only the eyes). ...

Allegations

OMON has been accused of corruption and of taking bribes,^{[citation needed]} including protection money, to improve their salaries. Since August 1999 they have also been accused of checking the identity papers of anybody who seems to be a foreigner in order to extract bribes. A protection racket is an extortion scheme whereby a powerful organization coerces individuals or businesses to pay protection money which allegedly serves to purchase the organizations protection services against various external threats, whereas the actual threat comes from the organization itself. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

There have also been allegations that the group appears to not always be under the full control of the government and often acts independently.^{[citation needed]}

Government control is also questionable in Chechnya, where one source even claims that Russian artillery was shelling OMON members on purpose. Chechen Republic (IPA: ; Russian: , Chechenskaya Respublika; Chechen: , Noxçiyn Respublika), or, informally, Chechnya (; Russian: ; Chechen: , Noxçiyçö), sometimes referred to as Ichkeria, Chechnia, Chechenia or Noxçiyn, is a federal subject of Russia (a republic). ... Artillery with Gabion fortification Cannons on display at Fort Point Continental Artillery crew from the American Revolution Firing of an 18-pound gun, Louis-Philippe Crepin, (1772 – 1851) A forge-welded Iron Cannon in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. ...

Anna Politkovskaya stated in August 2006 that the deputy commanding officer of OMON, Buvadi Dakiev, an old friend of hers, whom she secretly met, urged her to stay in his secure location. He was afraid she would be killed because Ramzan Kadyrov, the Prime Minister of the Federal government Russian republic of Chechnya since March 2006, was very angry with her. Buvadi offered to have her taken to Grozny in an OMON car, but that struck her as even more risky. She would be a target for Chechen fighters. "Do they at least have guns in the house you are going to?" he asked. [1] Anna Stepanovna Politkovskaya (Russian: ; 30 August 1958 – 7 October 2006) was a U.S.-born[1] Russian journalist and human rights activist well known for her opposition to the Chechen conflict and the Putin administration. ... August 2006 is the eighth month of that year, and has yet to occur. ... Ramzan Akhmadovich Kadyrov (Russian: Рамзан Ахмадович Кадыров) (born 5 October 1976, Tsenteroi, Chechnya) is the acting President of the Federal government Russian republic of Chechnya since February 15, 2007. ... A prime minister is the most senior minister of a cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... // Russian President Vladimir Putin established direct rule of Chechnya in May 2000. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Operations

• On January 20, 1991, OMON attacked Latvia's Interior Ministry during the Latvian independence movement, killing five people and injuring ten. Seven OMON members were subsequently found guilty by the Riga District Court and received suspended sentences.
• During the summer of 1991, a number of hit-and-run attacks on border outposts of Lithuania were attributed to OMON. Some sources say that Mikhail Gorbachev had lost control of the unit.
• OMON is active in the Second Chechen War. The group sustained heavy losses in this conflict. Almost every Russian city sends, on a regular basis, small units of police (often composed of OMON members) for tours of duty in Chechnya lasting several months. One group of 47 OMON members became known as the Perm OMON, since this was part of Perm's police. OMON member Sergei Udachin, 37, used a small camera to take snapshots of his group, and had used about half of the film before he and all but seven members of his group were killed or captured (and later killed). A Chechen fighter picked up the camera, and documented the Chechen side of the conflict including killed and captured Russians; eventually the images became public. During the conflict the OMON were also accused of raping and murdering civilians.
• OMON members were used for counter-drug operations in Central Asia.
• At the beginning of September 2004, OMON were involved in the Beslan hostage crisis.
• On March 3, 2007, OMON members countered the Saint Petersburg March of the Discontented.
• On April 14, 2007, OMON members countered a Dissenters March being held in Moscow.
• On April 15, 2007, OMON members countered a Dissenters March being held in Saint Petersburg.

January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Latvian independence movement during Soviet and Nazi occupation (1940-1991). ... Coordinates: Founded 1201 Government  - Mayor Jānis Birks Area  - City 307. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Several Soviet OMON assaults on Lithuanian border posts occured in 1991, after Lithuania declared its independence from the Soviet Union, and began establishing control of its borders. ... Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (Russian: ), surname more accurately romanized as Gorbachyov; born March 2, 1931) is a Russian politician. ... Combatants Russian Federation Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Strength At least 93,000 in Chechnya in 1999 About 30,000 in Chechnya in 2007 (mostly MVD) 10,000 to 20,000 in 1999 (including private militias) 700 in Chechnya in 2007 (Russian est. ... Location Position of Perm in Russia Government Country Federal district Federal subject Russia Volga Federal District Perm Krai Mayor Igor Nikolayevich Shubin Geographical characteristics Area  - City    - Land    - Water 799. ... Chechen can mean: Chechen people, an ethnic group Chechen language Related to Chechnya This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Republic of North Ossetia in Russia The Beslan school hostage crisis (also referred to by the media as the Beslan school siege) began when armed multinational terrorists took hundreds of schoolchildren and adults hostage on September 1, 2004 at School Number One in the Russian town of Beslan in... March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (63rd in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini era. ... The Saint Petersburg March of the Discontented [1] (Russian: Марш несогласных), is a major political protest of opposition that took place on Saturday, March 3, 2007, in St. ... April 14 is the 104th day of the year (105th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 261 days remaining. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini era. ... Protesters at the meeting near Gostiny Dvor, Saint Petersburg, March 3, 2007. ... April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini era. ... Protesters at the meeting near Gostiny Dvor, Saint Petersburg, March 3, 2007. ...

Personnel

Males between the ages of 22 and 30 who have completed their two-year military service can apply to join OMON. The selection procedure for OMON is tough, as is expected for a special forces unit. The application includes medical and psychological tests, and tests of speed and fitness. The initial training lasts for four months. The applicants are extensively trained in the use of different weaponry and close combat, and are also trained to follow orders at any cost. Special emphasis is put on urban combat and the entering and clearing of buildings. The training also includes legal training. The application procedure closes with a final test, where the applicant has to fight three to five trained members of OMON by hand wearing boxing gloves. Less than one in five applicants pass and are selected to join. Members of OMON are supposed to be extremely fit and experts in small arms and hand-to-hand combat. Psychology (from Greek: ψυχή, psukhē, spirit, soul; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is an academic/ applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. ...

Information from different sources suggests that there were between 5,500 and 9,000 OMON members stationed at population centers and transportation hubs around the country in the 1990s. For the band, see 1990s (band). ...

Members receive a comparatively small salary of about $400 per month. Most members retire at the age of approximately 45 years, and receive practically no financial aid from the state afterwards. Due to the use of OMON members in high risk situations, especially in Chechnya, the group often loses members in combat. Chechen Republic (IPA: ; Russian: , Chechenskaya Respublika; Chechen: , Noxçiyn Respublika), or, informally, Chechnya (; Russian: ; Chechen: , Noxçiyçö), sometimes referred to as Ichkeria, Chechnia, Chechenia or Noxçiyn, is a federal subject of Russia (a republic). ...

Weaponry

The OMON groups use a wide range of weapons, including but not limited to the following list:

• AK-74 assault rifle
• AKS-74U assault rifle (modified AK-74)
• 9a-91 assault rifle
• Bizon submachine gun
• Kedr submachine gun

OMON vehicles include specially-equipped buses and trucks of different types, as well as limited number of armoured personnel carriers. AK74 assault rifle The AK-74 assault rifle is the modernized version of the AK-47 developed in 1974, chambered in a smaller cartridge (5. ... The AK-47 is the worlds most common assault rifle. ... The AKSU-74 (also referred as AKS-74U or AK-74SU ) was introduced in 1970s. ... AK74 assault rifle The AK-74 assault rifle is the modernized version of the AK-47 developed in 1974, chambered in a smaller cartridge (5. ... In 1993 engineers of IZMASH OJSC created a submachine gun called PP-19 Bizon (Bison) that is derived from AK-74 and AK-100 series of assault rifles. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A Go North East bus parked in a lay-by in Tyne and Wear, England An articulated bus (or bendibus) operated by the CTA in Chicago, Illinois, USA. A bus is a large road vehicle designed to carry numerous passengers in addition to the driver and sometimes a conductor. ... The driver of this DAF tractor with an auto-transport semi-trailer truck prepares to offload Å koda Octavia cars in Cardiff, Wales For other articles with similar names, see Lorry (disambiguation) and truck (disambiguation). ... Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) are armoured fighting vehicles developed to transport infantry on the battlefield. ...

OMON units in Chechen war may also use other weaponry typical for a light infantry, such as a GP-25 underbarrel grenade launcher for AK-74 or the GM-94 pump-action grenade launcher. There have been two Chechen Wars: First Chechen War (1994–1996) Second Chechen War (1999–) 1991-1994 In September, 1991, militants of Nationally Congress of Chechen People (NCChP) have taken control over Chechnya (they have seized republics parliament and killed chief of the PCUS of Grozny, Vitali Kutsenko). ... Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. ... A GP-30 grenade launcher. ... A grenade launcher is weapon that fires or launches a grenade to longer distances than a soldier could throw by hand. ... A pump-action rifle or shotgun is one in which the fore-end of the stock can be pumped back and forth in order to eject and chamber a round of ammunition. ...

See also

• CO19
• SWAT - the United States model for the initial OMON
• French Gendarmerie Nationale
• GIGN
• SOBR - another system of militsiya special units specializing in combating organized crime
• Osnaz
• Spetsnaz
• Alpha Group
• Vityaz (MVD)
• Vympel
• Rus (special forces)
• Nationella insatsstyrkan

The Specialist Firearms Command (CO19) (better known by its former Specialist Operations designation SO19) is the department of Londons Metropolitan Police which provides firearms-related support to the generally unarmed force. ... This article is about Special Weapons and Tactics. ... Gendarmes Gendarmes guarding the Paris Hall of Justice Gendarmerie motorcyclists police the roads and autoroutes of rural France. ... Categories: Stub | Law enforcement in France ... The Special Rapid Reaction Unit or SOBR (Russian: специальные отряды быстрого реагирования = Spetsialnyye Otryady Bystrogo Reagirovaniya) is an elite commando unit of the Russian Interior Ministry, involved in anti-criminal operations. ... A member of a Russian special purpose police team (OMSN), equipped with a 9A91 submachine gun. ... Organized crime or criminal organizations are groups or operations run by criminals, most commonly for the purpose of generating a monetary profit. ... A member of the OSNAZ MVD Rus team. ... Russian special forces showcasing their skills For the Swedish EBM band, see Spetsnaz (band). ... A member of the FSB Alpha Group, equipped with the silenced AS VAL assault rifle. ... Vityaz unit emblem Vityaz (Russian: , Knight) is a Russian Spetsnaz unit of the MVD. Vityaz is assigned specifically to counter-terrorism duties. ... Emblem of Vympel Vympel (Russian: Вымпел meaning Pennant, also known as Vega Group or Spetsgruppa V) is a Russian counter-terrorism unit. ... A member of the OSNAZ MVD Rus team. ... Nationella insatsstyrkan är en elitgrupp inom den svenska polisen, avsedd att hantera ovanligt svåra och farliga situationer då människors liv är i fara, bland annat terrorism, gisslantagning, kidnappning, grova vapenbrott och liknande. ...

External links

• Unofficial OMON webpage