The article analyzes the controversial issue in the doctrine of criminal procedure law about the powers of the prosecutor in Russian criminal proceedings. The position of scientists pointing out their insufficiency is supported. The main attention is paid to the issue of making a decision to initiate criminal prosecution against a number of categories of persons included in the list of Articles 447 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation. The author argues for the need to transfer the authority to authorize the decisions of the investigative bodies on the initiation of criminal cases against all persons listed in paragraph 10, part 1 of art. 448 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation from the head of the investigative body to the prosecutor, since these persons are often subjects of criminal procedural relations and whose criminal prosecution is often due to their principled procedural position, which is objectionable, first of all, to the authoritiesof criminal prosecution . This approach, according to the author, is able to ensure the unconditional legitimacy of this procedural decision.