The legal basis for the arrests was the Beria-order No. 00315 of 18 April 1945, ordering the internment without prior investigation by the Soviet military of "spies, saboteurs, terrorists and active NSDAP members", heads of Nazi organizations, people maintaining "illegal" print and broadcasting devices or weapon deposits, members of the civil administration, and journalists.
Det formelle grundlag for arrestationerne var Lavrentij Berias dekret nr. 00315 af 18. april 1945, der beordrede sovjetunionens hær til uden forudgående undersøgelser at internere "spioner, sabotører, terrorister og aktive NSDAP-medlemmer, ledere af nazistiske organisationer, personer i besiddelse af illegale tryksager, radioudsendelsesudstyr eller våben, embedsmænd og journalister.