The Makarov pistol or PM (Russian: Пистолет Макарова, romanized: Pistolet Makarova, IPA: [pʲɪstɐˈlʲet mɐˈkarəvə], lit. 'Makarov's Pistol') is a Soviet semi-automatic pistol. Under the project leadership of Nikolay Fyodorovich Makarov, it became the Soviet Union's standard military and Militsiya side arm in 1951.[6]