The chinovnik (Russian and Ukrainian: Чиновник; Belarusian: Чыноўнік) was a Russian title for a person having a rank and serving in the civil or court service. The institution of chinovniks existed de facto in the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, but until 1722 it did not have a clear structure. The de jure chinovnik institute was structured by the establishment of the Table of Ranks on February 4, 1722.

"As the peasants were slaves of the landowners, the Russian people are still slaves of chinovniks", wrote Lenin in 1903, "Political freedom means the people's right to choose all the chinovniks themselves".^[2]

After the victory of the October Revolution in 1917, the Table of Ranks was abolished, and the institution of chinovniks was liquidated.^[3] Persons employed in the field of public administration became known as civil servants.

Types

• A civilian chinovnik of the military department (military chinovnik or ordinary chinovnik) was a military officer wearing a class civilian rank. In addition to external signs (name of rank, uniform), it differs from the rank of military (officers) in that it is not necessary for him to consistently complete military service, starting with the lower rank. Subject to limited military jurisdiction: for crimes of office and violation of the rules of military discipline.
• The class chinovnik was a chinovnik who had the rank of a certain class or the right to it.
• The clerical chinovnik was a chinovnik who had a class rank and held a position in a public office that was not given a special name.