Sotskii

the lowest rank in the rural police of prevolutionary Russia. Introduced in the 16th and 17th centuries, sotskie were officially instituted by the Statute on the Rural Police of 1837 as immediate subordinates to stanovye pristavy (police officers charged with various duties). One sotskii was elected by the peasants at village assemblies for every 100–200 households. In 1878, sotskie were made subordinate to politseiskie uriadniki (officers ranking below stanovye pristavy) and in 1903 they were replaced by civilian district politseiskie strazhniki (watchmen).