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In the Soviet era, the Minstry of Internal Affairs also functioned as a secret police. In March 1946 the NKVD was renamed to MVD. (All People's Commissariats (NK) were redesignated Ministries (M). Thus the NKVD became the MVD and the NKGB became the MGB.)

In March 1953 Lavrenty Beria united the MVD and MGB into one body, the MVD. Within a year Beria's execution caused the MVD to be split up. The reformed MVD retained its "internal security" ( police) functions while the new KGB took on "state security" ( secret service) functions.

MVD has its own organic OSNAZ unit, Otryad Militsii Osobogo Naznacheniya, or OMON.

The MVD controls the Militsia, the Internal Troops , the prisons and several other agencies.
Firefighting Service recently was moved from MVD to Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Situations .