Chairman of the new public organization Anatoly Stepanov spoke about its goals and objectives...
On December 6, a meeting of the Orthodox community was held at the Sholokhov Center of the Writers' Union of Russia, at which a new public organization was established - “Russian Assembly”. He was unanimously elected chairman of the organization Chief Editor"Russian People's Line"Anatoly Dmitrievich Stepanov , who told us about the goals and objectives of the RS.
We came up with the idea of creating a social movement almost a year ago. This idea was born from the understanding that RNL is not just a mass media, but, in fact, a club of like-minded people. Therefore, the idea arose to somehow institutionalize this state, uniting around the ideology that our regular authors preach and defend - and among them are authoritative clergy, scientists, writers, public figures - representatives of the Russian educated stratum who are concerned about the ideological and moral state of our people and the future of our Fatherland. Since our like-minded people live not only in Russia, but also in Ukraine, Belarus, and other countries of the world where there are Russian communities, it was decided to create international organization, in the hope that its branches will appear over time in different countries.
A powerful impetus for intensifying our actions was given by the Valdai speech of Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, who on September 19 of this year, for the first time from a high rostrum, loudly and unequivocally declared the need for a state ideology for Russia. This means that the national leader proposed revising some provisions of the Constitution created in haste under the dictation of American experts 20 years ago and, above all, the article prohibiting Russia from having a state ideology. After the Valdai speech, we held several round tables, organized a discussion, which resulted in yesterday’s meeting, when the international public organization “Russian Assembly” was established.
The question of the name of the organization caused a lot of discussion both before and yesterday. Various options for the name were proposed, for example, “Movement of Russian Traditionalists,” which, in principle, adequately describes the essence of our position, because we strive to rely on the national traditions of Russian political thought and to update the rich historiosophical heritage of our thinkers, starting from the Slavophiles I.V. Kireevsky and A. .S. Khomyakov and ending with our contemporaries, the recently deceased A.S. Panarin, V.V. Kozhinov, who created a coherent political doctrine about Russia. Others suggested calling themselves the “September 19 Movement,” since it was on this day that the President of the country delivered the Valdai speech, and it was she who gave impetus to the discussion of the issue of state ideology. There were other proposals - “The Third Rome”, “Power”, “Russian Way”, “Russian Spirit”. But an amazing thing is that after everyone who wanted to speak out on this issue spoke up, somehow everyone unanimously decided that we should call our organization “Russian Assembly”. This amazing unanimity was nothing more than a manifestation of the spirit of conciliarity. And it was a consequence of the fact that yesterday’s meeting was organized correctly, in Russian.
At 13-00, the meeting participants came to the Church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki, where, led by one of the members of the initiative group, priest Alexander Shumsky, they served a prayer service in front of the list of the venerated icon Mother of God“Helper of Sinners” and in front of the image of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. December 6 was not only the day of remembrance of our holy Prince-Warrior and outstanding Ruler of the country, but this year marked 750 years since the repose of Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavovich Nevsky. The image of Prince Alexander is a symbol RNL , and therefore it was especially important for me that the meeting took place on the day of his memory. By the way, this happened, one might say, providentially. Initially, we planned to hold the meeting before the beginning of the Nativity Fast, but then it turned out that for a number of reasons we would not be able to do this, it was impossible to postpone it until the New Year, it became clear that we needed to hold the meeting in early December, and the most suitable date turned out to be the day of memory of Alexander Nevsky.
The prayerful unanimity with which the meeting began was evident in the future. Many participants in the meeting later said that everything went surprisingly smoothly, without any unnecessary strife, in the spirit of unanimity and conciliarity; there was an impression that somehow everything was working out by itself.
The founders of the meeting were several dozen people. Among them are such famous people as the co-chairman of the Union of Writers of RussiaVladimir Nikolaevich Krupin , member of the board of the Writers' Union of RussiaSergey Ivanovich Kotkalo , famous writers – Vasily Vladimirovich Dvortsov , Alexey Alekseevich Shorokhov , Andrey Yurievich Khvalin , venerable scientist-philologist professorVsevolod Yurievich Troitsky , prominent public figures co-chairman of the movement " People's Cathedral» Oleg Yuryevich Kassin , Chairman of the Union of Orthodox CitizensValentin Vladimirovich Lebedev , head international movement"For Orthodox Rus'"Pavel Andreevich Bezukladichny , editor-in-chief of the magazine "Slavyanka"Sergey Vladimirovich Timchenko , columnist for Radio Radonezh, publicistViktor Alexandrovich Saulkin , priests father Alexander Shumsky And father Sergiy Karamyshev , public figureAndrey Vitalievich Soshenko , Deputy Chief Editor RNL Konstantin Gennadievich Novikov , political scientist Alexander Andreevich Gorbatov , Director of the Center for the Study of Socially Significant IssuesVladimir Aleksandrovich Surin , director of the publishing house "Blessing"Yuri Grigorievich Samusenko , journalists Oleg Vladimirovich Maryanov And Maria Andreevna Monomenova . Among the founders were also the head of Kalyazinsky municipal district Tver regionKonstantin Gennadievich Ilyin , public figuresAlexey Anatolyevich Kaigorodov , Alexey Anatolyevich Derevyanko , Yuri Mikhailovich Dunyashenko , candidate historical sciences Pavel Gennadievich Petin , Alexander Vladimirovich Skakov , Alexander Fedorovich Chernavsky , Nikolai Alekseevich Chistov , Victor Fedorovich Shevchenko and others.
They represented several regions of Russia: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tula, Kaluga, Lipetsk, Moscow, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod and Tver regions. The meeting approved the temporary charter of the public organization, elected the chairman and the Central Council of the “Russian Assembly”, which included 5 people - the chairman of the RS, as well as Father Alexander Shumsky, Vladimir Krupin, Andrey Soshenko (secretary of the organization) and Konstantin Novikov.
At the meeting, the idea was also born to create an Expert Council at the “Russian Assembly”, including authoritative scientists and experts in various fields of knowledge. Doctor of Philosophy, Professor of Moscow State University has already agreed to join the CouncilValery Nikolaevich Rastorguev , Doctor of Economics, Professor at MGIMOValentin Yuryevich Katasonov , doctor philological sciences, professor at Moscow State UniversityVladimir Alekseevich Voropaev , Doctor of Economics, Professor at HSELeonid Sergeevich Grebnev . The last two took an active part in the work of the meeting. In the future, as proposals were made, it is necessary not only to expand the composition of the Expert Council, but also to organize its work according to different directions. In the meantime, it is planned to involve experts along with RS members in preparing round tables, readings, conferences and meetings.
Participation in the founding meeting of the “Russian Assembly” by the chairman of the Union of Writers of Russia was significantValery Nikolaevich Ganichev , who addressed the audience with words of greeting and even took part in the discussion about the name of the organization. Ganichev had just returned from St. Petersburg, where he participated in the awarding of the Alexander Nevsky Prize laureates and, frankly speaking, I had doubts that he would be able to take part in the meeting, although he promised to be there if the opportunity arose. Therefore, I would like to once again thank Valery Nikolaevich for the honor that he showed us all by taking part in the founding meeting. For me, Ganichev’s participation was a living embodiment of the continuity of generations, since Valery Nikolaevich is one of the “last Mohicans” of the patriotic movement of previous decades. Thus, the “Russian Assembly” demonstrated loyalty to the patriotic tradition.
By the way, in addition to V.N. Ganichev, other guests were also present at the meeting: co-chairman of the Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods, rector of the Church of St. Nikola on BersenevkaHegumen Kirill (Sakharov) , chairman of the Autocratic Russia party recently registered by the Ministry of Justice, writerDmitry Nikolaevich Merkulov , editor-in-chief of the magazine "Pereprava"Alexander Ivanovich Notin .
Often I had to face the question: why do I need one more social movement How will it differ from others? Indeed, various public structures already exist on the Orthodox-patriotic field, the leaders of the most famous of them even took part in the meeting: co-chairman of the Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods Hegumen Kirill (Sakharov), co-chairman of the “People's Council” Oleg Kassin, chairman of the Union of Orthodox Citizens Valentin Lebedev, head movement “For the Orthodox Faith” Pavel Bezukladichny. These public associations are known for their active work by organization religious processions, rallies, processions, pickets and other public events.
Our movement sets itself other, primarily ideological, tasks. We intend to try to unite representatives of the educated layer of the Russian people in order to help the authorities formulate and develop a state ideology or development ideology, as Russian President Vladimir Putin puts it. And thus we strive to ensure that no new gap arises between the Russian intelligentsia and the authorities, which was so painful in old times and became one of the reasons for the revolution.
However, today it already exists social structure, which solves partly similar problems. I mean Izborsk club, created by the talented writer and publicist Alexander Andreevich Prokhanov. And the name couldn’t be better, and the idea is wonderful - to unite all illiberal-minded intellectuals, and wonderful people gathered there, many of whom I consider complete like-minded people. However, the Izborsk Club was formed according to a different methodology - opponents of the liberal course gathered there, but in a meaningful sense the people are very different. The task of ideological struggle against liberal temptation, to overcome liberalism, which still dominates the consciousness of a significant part of modern political elite, is extremely relevant today. And in this we need to support the initiatives of the Izborsk Club in every possible way.
However, the rejection of liberalism alone is not enough to formulate a positive, forward-looking ideology. People of the left-communist, nationalist and Orthodox-patriotic worldview can jointly fight against the liberal utopia, but they are unlikely to be able to formulate an ideology of development, which is what the authorities expect from intellectuals. This requires a unified ideological platform, which also refers to a certain tradition of political and historiosophical thought.
For us, such a worldview platform is Orthodoxy, patriotism and conservatism. We strive to update for tasks modern development Russia ideas of Ivan Kireevsky and Alexei Khomyakov, Nikolai Danilevsky and Konstantin Leontyev, Konstantin and Ivan Aksakov, Mikhail Katkov and Konstantin Pobedonostsev, Lev Tikhomirov and Ivan Ilyin, the organizers of the pre-revolutionary “Russian Assembly”. Only on this basis can we create a modern Russian ideology, capable of not only reconciling us with our great ancestors, who created, developed and defended the Fatherland, not only uniting around the Russian people all the diversity of nationalities and confessions of Russia, but also serving as the basis for new integration in the Eurasian space , for the reunification of the Russian people divided by borders.
After the founding assembly, we need to organize the activities of the assembly. Therefore, I appeal to all readers who are interested in the development of our public organization (since I perceive this as our common cause) to get involved in the work. We need to discuss a realistic plan of action. “Russian Assembly” today is an exclusively public initiative, so the organization does not have a budget. But we are not used to working in such conditions; there have also been “ Russian folk line " The Russian people have always been strong in ingenuity. Over time, I hope, we will create a website for the “Russian Assembly”, but for now we will try to make a page on RNL . Therefore, I suggest you send your ideas and suggestions by email RNL . We will welcome any initiative.
On December 6, a meeting of the Orthodox community was held at the Sholokhov Center of the Writers' Union of Russia, at which a new public organization was established - “Russian Assembly”. The editor-in-chief of the Russian People's Line was unanimously elected chairman of the organization. Anatoly Dmitrievich Stepanov, who told us about the goals and objectives of the RS.
We came up with the idea of creating a social movement almost a year ago. This idea was born from the understanding that RNL is not just a mass media, but, in fact, a club of like-minded people. Therefore, the idea arose to somehow institutionalize this state, uniting around the ideology that our regular authors preach and defend - and among them are authoritative clergy, scientists, writers, public figures - representatives of the Russian educated stratum who are concerned about the ideological and moral state of our people and the future of our Fatherland. Since our like-minded people live not only in Russia, but also in Ukraine, Belarus, and other countries of the world where there are Russian communities, it was decided to create an international organization, in the hope that its branches will appear over time in different countries.
A powerful impetus for intensifying our actions was given by the Valdai speech of Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, who on September 19 of this year, for the first time from a high rostrum, loudly and unequivocally declared the need for a state ideology for Russia. This means that the national leader proposed revising some provisions of the Constitution created in haste under the dictation of American experts 20 years ago and, above all, the article prohibiting Russia from having a state ideology. After the Valdai speech, we held several round tables, organized a discussion, the result of which was yesterday’s meeting, when the international public organization “Russian Assembly” was established.
The question of the name of the organization caused a lot of discussion both before and yesterday. Various options for the name were proposed, for example, “Movement of Russian Traditionalists,” which, in principle, adequately describes the essence of our position, because we strive to rely on the national traditions of Russian political thought and to update the rich historiosophical heritage of our thinkers, starting from the Slavophiles I.V. Kireevsky and A. .S. Khomyakov and ending with our contemporaries, the recently deceased A.S. Panarin, V.V. Kozhinov, who created a coherent political doctrine about Russia. Others suggested calling themselves the “September 19 Movement,” since it was on this day that the President of the country delivered the Valdai speech, and it was she who gave impetus to the discussion of the issue of state ideology. There were other proposals - “The Third Rome”, “Power”, “Russian Way”, “Russian Spirit”. But an amazing thing is that after everyone who wanted to speak out on this problem spoke up, somehow everyone unanimously decided that we should call our organization “Russian Assembly”. This amazing unanimity was nothing more than a manifestation of the spirit of conciliarity. And it was a consequence of the fact that yesterday’s meeting was organized correctly, in Russian.
At 13-00, the meeting participants came to the Church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki, where, led by one of the members of the initiative group, priest Alexander Shumsky, they served a prayer service in front of the list of the revered icon of the Mother of God “Support of Sinners” and in front of the image of the holy blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. December 6 was not only the day of remembrance of our holy Prince-Warrior and outstanding Ruler of the country, but this year marked 750 years since the repose of Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavovich Nevsky. The image of Prince Alexander is a symbol of the RNL, and therefore it was especially important for me that the meeting took place on the day of his memory. By the way, this happened, one might say, providentially. Initially, we planned to hold the meeting before the beginning of the Nativity Fast, but then it turned out that for a number of reasons we would not be able to do this, it was impossible to postpone it until the New Year, it became clear that we needed to hold the meeting in early December, and the most suitable date turned out to be the day of memory of Alexander Nevsky.
The prayerful unanimity with which the meeting began was evident in the future. Many participants in the meeting later said that everything went surprisingly smoothly, without any unnecessary strife, in the spirit of unanimity and conciliarity; there was an impression that somehow everything was working out by itself.
The founders of the meeting were several dozen people. Among them are such famous people as the co-chairman of the Union of Writers of Russia Vladimir Nikolaevich Krupin , member of the board of the Writers' Union of Russia Sergey Ivanovich Kotkalo , famous writers - Vasily Vladimirovich Dvortsov , Alexey Alekseevich Shorokhov , Andrey Yurievich Khvalin , venerable scientist-philologist professor Vsevolod Yurievich Troitsky , prominent public figures, leader of the People's Council movement Oleg Yuryevich Kassin , Chairman of the Union of Orthodox Citizens Valentin Vladimirovich Lebedev , head of the international movement “For Orthodox Rus'” Pavel Andreevich Bezukladichny , editor-in-chief of the magazine "Slavyanka" Sergey Vladimirovich Timchenko , columnist for Radio Radonezh, publicist Viktor Alexandrovich Saulkin , priests father Alexander Shumsky And father Sergiy Karamyshev , public figure Andrey Vitalievich Soshenko , deputy editor-in-chief of RNL Konstantin Gennadievich Novikov , political scientist Alexander Andreevich Gorbatov , Director of the Center for the Study of Socially Significant Issues Vladimir Aleksandrovich Surin , director of the publishing house "Blessing" Yuri Grigorievich Samusenko , journalists Oleg Vladimirovich Maryanov And Maria Andreevna Monomenova . Among the founders were also the head of the Kalyazinsky municipal district of the Tver region Konstantin Gennadievich Ilyin , public figures Alexey Anatolyevich Kaigorodov , Alexey Anatolyevich Derevyanko , Yuri Mikhailovich Dunyashenko , Candidate of Historical Sciences Pavel Gennadievich Petin , Alexander Vladimirovich Skakov , Alexander Fedorovich Chernavsky , Nikolai Alekseevich Chistov , Victor Fedorovich Shevchenko and others.
They represented several regions of Russia: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tula, Kaluga, Lipetsk, Moscow, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod and Tver regions. The meeting approved the temporary charter of the public organization, elected the chairman and the Central Council of the “Russian Assembly”, which included 5 people - the chairman of the RS, as well as Father Alexander Shumsky, Vladimir Krupin, Andrey Soshenko (secretary of the organization) and Konstantin Novikov.
At the meeting, the idea was also born to create an Expert Council at the “Russian Assembly”, including authoritative scientists and experts in various fields of knowledge. Doctor of Philosophy, Professor of Moscow State University has already agreed to join the Council Valery Nikolaevich Rastorguev , Doctor of Economics, Professor at MGIMO Valentin Yuryevich Katasonov , Doctor of Philology, Professor of Moscow State University Vladimir Alekseevich Voropaev , Doctor of Economics, Professor at HSE Leonid Sergeevich Grebnev . The last two took an active part in the work of the meeting. In the future, as proposals were made, it is necessary not only to expand the composition of the Expert Council, but also to organize its work in different areas. In the meantime, it is planned to involve experts along with RS members in preparing round tables, readings, conferences and meetings.
Participation in the founding meeting of the “Russian Assembly” by the chairman of the Union of Writers of Russia was significant Valery Nikolaevich Ganichev , who addressed the audience with words of greeting and even took part in the discussion about the name of the organization. Ganichev had just returned from St. Petersburg, where he participated in the awarding of the Alexander Nevsky Prize laureates and, frankly speaking, I had doubts that he would be able to take part in the meeting, although he promised to be there if the opportunity arose. Therefore, I would like to once again thank Valery Nikolaevich for the honor that he showed us all by taking part in the founding meeting. For me, Ganichev’s participation was a living embodiment of the continuity of generations, since Valery Nikolaevich is one of the “last Mohicans” of the patriotic movement of previous decades. Thus, the “Russian Assembly” demonstrated loyalty to the patriotic tradition.
By the way, in addition to V.N. Ganichev, other guests were also present at the meeting: co-chairman of the Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods, rector of the Church of St. Nikola on Bersenevka Hegumen Kirill (Sakharov) , chairman of the Autocratic Russia party recently registered by the Ministry of Justice, writer Dmitry Nikolaevich Merkulov , editor-in-chief of the magazine "Pereprava" Alexander Ivanovich Notin .
I often had to face the question: why is another social movement needed, how will it differ from others? Indeed, various public structures already exist on the Orthodox-patriotic field, the leaders of the most famous of them even took part in the meeting: co-chairman of the Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods Abbot Kirill (Sakharov), leader of the “People's Council” Oleg Kassin, chairman of the Union of Orthodox Citizens Valentin Lebedev, head movement “For the Orthodox Faith” Pavel Bezukladichny. These public associations are known for their active activities in organizing religious processions, rallies, processions, pickets and other public events.
Our movement sets itself other, primarily ideological, tasks. We intend to try to unite representatives of the educated layer of the Russian people in order to help the authorities formulate and develop a state ideology or development ideology, as Russian President Vladimir Putin puts it. And thus we strive to ensure that a new gap does not arise between the Russian intelligentsia and the authorities, which was so painful in previous times and became one of the reasons for the emergence of the revolution.
However, today there is already a social structure that solves partly similar problems. I mean the Izborsk Club, created by the talented writer and publicist Alexander Andreevich Prokhanov. And the name couldn’t be better, and the idea is wonderful - to unite all illiberal-minded intellectuals, and wonderful people gathered there, many of whom I consider complete like-minded people. However, the Izborsk Club was formed according to a different methodology - opponents of the liberal course gathered there, but in a meaningful sense the people are very different. The task of ideological struggle against the liberal temptation, overcoming liberalism, which still dominates the consciousness of a significant part of the modern political elite, is extremely relevant today. And in this we need to support the initiatives of the Izborsk Club in every possible way.
However, the rejection of liberalism alone is not enough to formulate a positive, forward-looking ideology. People of the left-communist, nationalist and Orthodox-patriotic worldview can jointly fight against the liberal utopia, but they are unlikely to be able to formulate an ideology of development, which is what the authorities expect from intellectuals. This requires a unified ideological platform, which also refers to a certain tradition of political and historiosophical thought.
For us, such a worldview platform is Orthodoxy, patriotism and conservatism. We strive to update the ideas of Ivan Kireevsky and Alexei Khomyakov, Nikolai Danilevsky and Konstantin Leontyev, Konstantin and Ivan Aksakov, Mikhail Katkov and Konstantin Pobedonostsev, Lev Tikhomirov and Ivan Ilyin, the organizers of the pre-revolutionary “Russian Assembly” for the tasks of modern development of Russia. Only on this basis can we create a modern Russian ideology, capable of not only reconciling us with our great ancestors, who created, developed and defended the Fatherland, not only uniting around the Russian people all the diversity of nationalities and confessions of Russia, but also serving as the basis for new integration in the Eurasian space , for the reunification of the Russian people divided by borders.
After the founding assembly, we need to organize the activities of the assembly. Therefore, I appeal to all readers who are interested in the development of our public organization (since I perceive this as our common cause) to get involved in the work. We need to discuss a realistic plan of action. “Russian Assembly” today is an exclusively public initiative, so the organization does not have a budget. But we are not used to working in such conditions; the “Russian People's Line” has also existed for many years. The Russian people have always been strong in ingenuity. Over time, I hope, we will create a website for the “Russian Assembly”, but for now we will try to make a page on RNL. Therefore, I propose to send your ideas and suggestions to RNL mail. We will welcome any initiative.
The chairman of the new public organization is Anatoly Stepanov. Several dozen people became the founders of the meeting. Among them are such famous people as co-chairman of the Union of Writers of Russia Vladimir Nikolaevich Krupin, member of the board of the Union of Writers of Russia Sergei Ivanovich Kotkalo, famous writers - Vasily Vladimirovich Dvortsov, Alexey Alekseevich Shorokhov, Andrei Yuryevich Khvalin, venerable philologist Professor Vsevolod Yuryevich Troitsky, prominent public figures leader of the “People's Council” movement Oleg Yuryevich Kassin, chairman of the Union of Orthodox Citizens Valentin Vladimirovich Lebedev, head of the international movement “For Orthodox Rus'” Pavel Andreevich Bezukladichny, editor-in-chief of the magazine “Slavyanka” Sergei Vladimirovich Timchenko, columnist for Radio Radonezh, publicist Viktor Alexandrovich Saulkin, priests Father Alexander Shumsky and Father Sergiy Karamyshev, public figure Andrei Vitalievich Soshenko, deputy editor-in-chief of RNL Konstantin Gennadievich Novikov, political scientist Alexander Andreevich Gorbatov, director of the Center for the Study of Socially Significant Problems Vladimir Aleksandrovich Surin, director of the Blessing Publishing House Yuri Grigorievich Samusenko, journalist Maria Andreevna Monomenova. Among the founders were also the head of the Kalyazinsky municipal district of the Tver region Konstantin Gennadievich Ilyin, public figures Alexey Anatolyevich Kaigorodov, Alexey Anatolyevich Derevyanko, Yuri Mikhailovich Dunyashenko, candidate of historical sciences Pavel Gennadievich Petin, Alexander Vladimirovich Skakov, Alexander Fedorovich Chernavsky, Nikolai Alekseevich Chistov, Viktor Fedorovich Shevchenko and others. They represented several regions of Russia: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tula, Kaluga, Lipetsk, Moscow, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod and Tver regions. The meeting approved the temporary charter of the public organization, elected the chairman and the Central Council of the “Russian Assembly”, which included 5 people - the chairman of the RS, as well as Father Alexander Shumsky, Vladimir Krupin, Andrey Soshenko (secretary of the organization) and Konstantin Novikov. At the meeting, the idea was also born to create an Expert Council at the “Russian Assembly”, including authoritative scientists and experts in various fields of knowledge. The Council has already agreed to include Doctor of Philosophy, Professor of Moscow State University Valery Nikolaevich Rastorguev, Doctor of Economics, Professor of MGIMO Valentin Yurievich Katasonov, Doctor of Philology, Professor of Moscow State University Vladimir Alekseevich Voropaev, Doctor of Economics, Professor of Higher School of Economics Leonid Sergeevich Grebnev. The last two took an active part in the work of the meeting. In the future, as proposals were made, it is necessary not only to expand the composition of the Expert Council, but also to organize its work in different areas. In the meantime, it is planned to involve experts along with RS members in preparing round tables, readings, conferences and meetings. Significant was the participation in the founding meeting of the “Russian Assembly” by the chairman of the Union of Writers of Russia Valery Nikolaevich Ganichev, who addressed those gathered with words of greeting and even took part in the discussion about the name of the organization. Ganichev had just returned from St. Petersburg, where he participated in the awarding of the Alexander Nevsky Prize laureates and, frankly speaking, I had doubts that he would be able to take part in the meeting, although he promised to be there if the opportunity arose. Therefore, I would like to once again thank Valery Nikolaevich for the honor that he showed us all by taking part in the founding meeting. For me, Ganichev’s participation was a living embodiment of the continuity of generations, since Valery Nikolaevich is one of the “last Mohicans” of the patriotic movement of previous decades. Thus, the “Russian Assembly” demonstrated loyalty to the patriotic tradition. By the way, in addition to V.N. Ganichev, other guests were also present at the meeting: co-chairman of the Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods, rector of the Church of St. Nikola on Bersenevka, abbot Kirill (Sakharov), chairman of the party “Autocratic Russia” recently registered by the Ministry of Justice, writer Dmitry Nikolaevich Merkulov, editor-in-chief of the magazine “Pereprava” Alexander Ivanovich Notin. For us, such a worldview platform is Orthodoxy, patriotism and conservatism. We strive to update the ideas of Ivan Kireevsky and Alexei Khomyakov, Nikolai Danilevsky and Konstantin Leontyev, Konstantin and Ivan Aksakov, Mikhail Katkov and Konstantin Pobedonostsev, Lev Tikhomirov and Ivan Ilyin, the organizers of the pre-revolutionary “Russian Assembly” for the tasks of modern development of Russia. Only on this basis can we create a modern Russian ideology, capable of not only reconciling us with our great ancestors, who created, developed and defended the Fatherland, not only uniting around the Russian people all the diversity of nationalities and confessions of Russia, but also serving as the basis for new integration in the Eurasian space , for the reunification of the Russian people divided by borders.
Black Hundreds of the early twentieth century - who are they?
DefinitionGreat Soviet Encyclopedia reads:
"Black Hundreds, “Black Hundred”, members of a reactionary public organization in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century, which, advocating the preservation of the inviolability of autocracy on the basis of great-power chauvinism,in the fight against the revolutionary movement, they complemented the punitive apparatus of tsarism. Predecessors Black Hundreds should be considered"Sacred Squad" and the “Russian Assembly” in St. Petersburg, which united from 1900 reactionary representatives of the intelligentsia, officials, clergy and landowners. During the Revolution of 1905–07, in connection with the intensification of the class struggle, arose: in St. Petersburg"Union of the Russian People" , in Moscow"Union of Russian People" , “Russian Monarchist Party”, “Society for Active Struggle against the Revolution”, in Odessa “White Double-Headed Eagle”, etc. Social basis These organizations consisted of the most heterogeneous elements: landowners, representatives of the clergy, large and petty urban bourgeoisie, merchants, petty bourgeoisie, artisans, unconscious workers, as well as declassed elements. Activity Black Hundred organizations was heading"Council of the United Nobility" and found moral and material support autocracy and court camarilla. Despite some differences in the programs of the Black Hundred organizations, what was common to their activities was the fight against the revolutionary movement. Black Hundreds conducted oral campaigning in churches, at meetings, rallies, lectures, served prayer services, held mass demonstrations, sent delegations to the Tsar, etc. This agitation contributed to the incitement of anti-Semitism and monarchical frenzy and led to a wave of pogroms and terrorist attacks against revolutionaries and progressives. public figures. Black Hundreds published the newspapers “Russian Banner”, “Pochaevsky Listok”, “Zemshchina”, “Bell”, “Groza”, “Veche”, etc.; materials Black Hundreds Right-wing newspapers were also published - Moskovskie Vedomosti, Grazhdanin, Kievlyanin. Prominent figures of the Black Hundred organizations were A.I.Dubrovin , V.M.Purishkevich , NOT.Markov , lawyer P. F. Bulatzel, priest I. I. Vostorgov, engineer A. I. Trishaty, monk Iliodor, Prince M. K. Shakhovskoy and others. In order to unite their forces, the Black Hundreds held four all-Russian congresses; The “Main Board” was elected (in October 1906) of the all-Black Hundred organization “United Russian People”. After the Revolution of 1905–07, the all-Russian Black Hundred organization collapsed, the Black Hundred movement weakened, and the size of their organization decreased sharply. During the February Revolution of 1917, the remaining Black Hundred organizations were officially abolished. After the October Revolution, the leaders and many ordinary members of these organizations fought against Soviet power. The term “Black Hundred” was subsequently used in relation to extreme reactionaries, militant opponents of socialism, etc.”
I took the entire definition from TSB (it’s not that big). But the details from it need to be dealt with in more detail.
Since the definition is taken from Soviet encyclopedia, it is natural that revolutionaries are presented in it as unambiguously positive characters, and defenders of the old government as reactionaries and retrogrades. However, after the cancellation in our country Soviet project Another point of view appeared regarding the Black Hundreds. It is presented by historians Vadim Kozhinov (for example, chapter"Who are the Black Hundreds"
in the book “Russia of the XX century (1901-1939)”), Anatoly Stepanov ( whole line books of which he was the author, co-author or compiler) and some others. They see in the ideology of the Black Hundreds only positive side, proving its positivity by the participation in the movement of many prominent people: chemist Dmitry Mendeleev, artists Viktor Vasnetsov and Mikhail Nesterov, philosopher Vasily Rozanov and others; and also glorified among the saints: St. righteous John Kronstadtsky, St. Patriarch Tikhon and others. According to these historians, although there were Jewish pogroms, they were far from being in such numbers as is attributed to the Black Hundreds.
However, I will return to this difference in views on the Black Hundreds. First you need to figure out where this movement “came from.”
The name "Black Hundreds" dates back to the 17th century, to the townspeople "difficult people"
: “Heavy people are part of the population of the Russian state, obligated to perform natural duties in favor of the state and pay taxes to it. The draft people included peasants and townspeople. The heavy population was divided into black settlements and black hundreds.
Townspeople settled in the black settlements, supplying various supplies to the royal palace and working for palace needs. The tax was paid from the place and from the fishery. Duty is communal. Taxes and duties were distributed by the community. The tax was paid based on the number of households, and not on the number of people. Simple townspeople, engaged in small trade, crafts and trades, were brought together into the black hundreds. Each Black Hundred constituted a self-governing society with elected elders and centurions.”
Vladimir Gringmut, a right-wing radical politician, one of the founders and ideologists of the Black Hundred movement, tried through the name to identify the Black Hundreds also with the people’s militia of Kuzma Minin, with the Nizhny Novgorod “Black Hundreds”. That is, by calling the monarchical organization “Black Hundreds,” the leaders sought to show that it was “truly national.”
The monarchical movement of “true Russian people” appeared back in the 1900s in the form of disparate organizations. But even in their best years, during the revolution of 1905-1908, the Black Hundreds were represented by more or less large-scale various associations.
However, the prerequisites for the emergence of such a monarchical movement arose back in the 19th century. Ideologically, it is a continuation and development of Slavophilism, whose positions were held by Ivan Kireevsky, Khomyakov, Tyutchev, Gogol, Yuri Samarin, Konstantin and Ivan Aksakov, Dostoevsky, Konstantin Leontiev...
Soon after the assassination of Emperor Alexander II on March 1, 1881, the nobles created a secret “Holy Squad”, which was primarily engaged in the protection of Emperor Alexander III and members imperial family. The squad included officers and senior military officials, as well as representatives of Russian aristocratic families. It did not last long, but, nevertheless, served as a prototype for other monarchical organizations that arose at the beginning of the twentieth century.
The emergence of the Black Hundred was a typical reaction of the conservative part of society to revolutionary events and was undertaken, if not on the initiative, then with the approval and support of the ruling circles. The Black Hundreds were supporters of an unlimited autocratic monarchy, a class system, and a united and indivisible Russia.
The first monarchical organization can be considered the “Russian Assembly”, organized in 1900 (if you do not take into account the short-lived “Russian squad”). However, the basis of the Black Hundred movement became the organization “Union of the Russian People”, which arose at the end of 1905, headed by Dubrovin. In 1908, Purishkevich disagreed with Dubrovin and left the RNC, forming his own “Union of Archangel Michael.” In 1912, a second split occurred in the “Union of the Russian People”, this time a confrontation occurred between Dubrovin and Markov. At the same time, Dubrovin leaves the Union, forming his own ultra-right All-Russian Dubrovinskaya “Union of the Russian People.”
Thus, the three main leaders of the monarchists come to the fore - Dubrovin (VDSRN), Purishkevich (SMA) and Markov (SRN).
But there were many smaller organizationswith their leaders.
"Russian Assembly"
- the oldest monarchical and nationalist organization(party) of Russia, created in St. Petersburg in October-November 1900, continued to exist after the February Revolution of 1917.
On January 26, 1901, the comrade of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Senator P. Durnovo, approved the charter of this first political organization Russian people. The party united representatives of the Russian intelligentsia, officials, clergy and landowners of the capital. Initially, the “Russian Assembly” was a literary and artistic club; cultural and educational activities came to the fore; politicization intensified only after 1905. The first founders of the “Russian Assembly” were 120 people.
The “Russian Assembly” had branches in Kharkov, Kazan, Odessa and other cities. The party switched to political activity in the fall of 1904 with such actions as submitting addresses to the Tsar, delegations to the Tsar, and propaganda in the press. The 1st Congress of the Russian Assembly (1906) approved the program platform:
. autocratic and indivisible Russia;
. the dominant position of Orthodoxy in Russia;
. recognition of the legislative capacity of the State Duma.
The slogan was adopted - “Orthodoxy. Autocracy. Nationality."
"Union of Michael the Archangel"
(full name - “Russian People's Union named after Michael the Archangel”) is a Russian monarchist, Black Hundred organization (party), which arose in early 1908 as a result of the withdrawal of a number of public figures led by V. M. Purishkevich from the “Union of the Russian People”. It existed until 1917.
The “Union” had its own cells in many cities of Russia, especially large organizations in Moscow, Odessa, and Kyiv.
The "Union" advocated the preservation of the historical foundations of Russia - Orthodoxy and autocracy, fought for the deprivation voting rights Jews and limiting the representation of Poland and the Caucasus. At the same time, the Union supported the existence of the State Duma and approved Stolypin reform aimed at destroying the peasant community.
The "Union" distributed newspapers, books and brochures, held meetings, readings, and mass anti-Semitic campaigns.
"All-Russian Dubrovinsky Union of Russian People"
(VDSRN) is a Russian Orthodox-monarchist patriotic organization that existed in the Russian Empire in 1912-1917.
It was formed as a result of a split in the “Union of the Russian People” - the largest monarchist organization in the Russian Empire.
In August 1912, the charter of the “All-Russian Dubrovinsky Union of the Russian People” was officially registered, according to which the goal of the “Union” was proclaimed “the preservation of Russia united and indivisible - with the dominance of Orthodoxy in it, with the unlimited power of the Tsarist Autocracy and the primacy of the Russian People.” Members of the Union could be “only natural Orthodox Russian people, of both sexes, of all classes and conditions, who recognized themselves as aware of the goals of the Union and devoted to them. Before joining, they are required to promise not to enter into communication with any communities pursuing goals that are inconsistent with the objectives of the Union.” The candidate had to secure the support of two members of the Union. Foreigners could only be accepted by decision of the Main Council. Jews, persons whose at least one parent was a Jew, and persons married to a Jew were not accepted into the union. The same rules were spelled out in the Charter of the “Union of the Russian People”, adopted in 1906.
"Russian monarchist party"
- Russian monarchist, Black Hundred organization, arose in the spring of 1905 in Moscow. Since 1907 - “Russian Monarchical Union”.
Until his death in 1907, the party leader was V.A. Greenmouth. He was replaced by Archpriest John Vostorgov. Instead of Gringmut, he also became chairman of the “Russian Monarchist Assembly” - the intellectual headquarters of the monarchists of Moscow. Party members were exclusively nobles and Orthodox clergy, that's partly why it was small organization and its influence on the political situation in Russia was limited.
"Union of Russian People"
- a Russian national-monarchist organization that existed in Moscow from 1905 until actually 1910-1911, formally until 1917. The founders and main figures are counts Pavel Dmitrievich and Pyotr Dmitrievich Sheremetev, princes P. N. Trubetskoy and A. G. Shcherbatov (1st chairman), Russian publicists N. A. Pavlov and S. F. Sharapov.
The task of the “Union” is to promote by legal means proper development began the Russian Church, Russian Statehood and the Russian national economy on the basis of Orthodoxy, Autocracy and Russian Nationality.
Russian Orthodox (including Old Believers) people could become members of the “Union”, and also by decision general meeting- non-Russian or heterodox (except for Jews). According to social status, representatives of the noble aristocracy stood out among the members of the "Union", then the proportion of representatives of the intelligentsia, students and employees began to increase.
"All-Russian National Union"
- Russian Orthodox-monarchist right-wing conservative party that existed in the Russian Empire in 1908-1917. It was created in 1908-1910 as a union of a number of parties, organizations and factions of the State Duma - the Russian Party of the People's Center, the Legal Order Party, the Moderate Right Party, the Tula Union "For the Tsar and Order", the Bessarabian Center Party, the Kiev Club of Russian Nationalists and a number of other provincial organizations, two factions of the Third State Duma - the Moderate Right and the Russian National.
The founding congress of the Supreme National Assembly took place on June 18, 1908. The main ideologist of the party was the Russian publicist M. O. Menshikov, the chairmen were S. V. Rukhlov (1908-1909) and P. N. Balashov (1909-1917).
The ideology of the “Union” was based on the triad “Orthodoxy, Autocracy, Nationality”; among the goals of the Supreme National Assembly were indicated “the unity and indivisibility of the Russian Empire, the protection of the dominance of the Russian nationality in all its parts, the strengthening of the consciousness of the Russian national unity and the strengthening of Russian statehood on the basis of the autocratic power of the Tsar in unity with legislative popular representation.”
In relation to foreigners, the Supreme Council proposed to pursue the following policy:
. restriction of political (electoral) rights of foreigners at the national level;
. restriction of the rights of foreigners to participate in local life;
. restriction of some civil rights of foreigners (when entering the civil service, when engaging in business and liberal professions);
. limiting the influx of foreigners from abroad.
At the same time, it was declared that “given the loyal attitude of foreigners to Russia, the Russian people cannot help but meet their aspirations and desires.”
Persons “belonging to the indigenous Russian population or organically merging with the Russian people” could become members of the Supreme Council. The latter was understood as a political merger, that is, the guidance by foreigners of the interests of the Russian Empire.
The largest regional organizations The VNS had organizations on the national outskirts (mainly in the west of the Empire), as well as in the capitals.
The VNS consisted of famous Russian scientists prof. I. A. Sikorsky, prof. P. N. Ardashev, prof. P. Ya. Armashevsky, prof. P. E. Kazansky, prof. P. I. Kovalevsky, prof. P. A. Kulakovsky, prof. N. O. Kuplevasky and others. The government of P. A. Stolypin supported the Union. After 1915, it actually disintegrated and finally ceased to exist in 1917.
Council of Monarchical Congresses
- a collegial body created to coordinate the monarchist movement in the Russian Empire in November 1915. The creation of such a body was caused by the need to unite monarchical forces in the face of growing opposition to the Autocracy, revolutionary propaganda, and growing instability in the country, as a counterbalance to the consolidation of anti-monarchical forces, expressed, in particular, in the creation of the Progressive Bloc in the IV State Duma.
In addition, the creation of such a body was intended to smooth out the contradictions and hostility between the “Markov” and “Dubrovin” Unions of the Russian People by including representatives of both organizations in it.
The Council held meetings at which issues of coordination of the monarchist movement were considered, issued statements and appeals in which, in particular, it condemned attempts to hold “alternative” monarchist congresses, not under the auspices of the SMC.
"Union of the Russian People" led by doctor A.I. Dubrovin - this is the most large organization Black Hundreds, formed into a kind of party with a charter, ideology and program. The "Union" came into being in November 1905, shortly after the Manifesto of October 17, 1905: The Supreme Manifesto on the improvement of the state order (October Manifesto)
"Union", which had all the signs of a political party (program, charter, governing bodies, a network of local organizations, etc.), categorically denied his party character, posing as a national association, and in the broad sense of the word identified himself with the entire Russian nation. With this interpretation, belonging to the “Union” was not a voluntary choice, but a sacred duty of every loyal subject, while membership in any other political organization was equated to high treason.
The "Union of the Russian People" relied on national question. The goals, ideology and program of the “Union” were contained in the Charter, adopted on August 7, 1906. Its main goal was the development of national Russian self-awareness and the unification of all Russian people for common work for the benefit of Russia, united and indivisible. This benefit, according to the authors of the document, was contained in the traditional formula “Orthodoxy, autocracy, nationality.” Particular attention was paid to Orthodoxy as the fundamental religion of Russia.
The “Union” aimed to bring the tsar closer to the people by liberating himself from bureaucratic dominance in the government and returning to the traditional concept of the Duma as cathedral body. For the authorities, the charter recommended respect for freedom of speech, press, assembly, association and the inviolability of the person, in established by law borders.
The charter noted the primacy of the Russian people in the state. Russians meant Great Russians, Belarusians and Little Russians. In relation to foreigners, strict principles of legality were prescribed, allowing them to consider it an honor and a blessing to belong to the Russian Empire and not be burdened by their dependence.
The section on the activities of the union set the tasks of participating in the work of the State Duma, educating the people in the political, religious and patriotic spheres, by opening churches, schools, hospitals and other institutions, holding meetings, and publishing literature. To assist the members of the “Union” and the events organized by it, the creation of the All-Russian Bank “Union of the Russian People” with branches in the regions was prescribed.
The Union paid much attention to the Jewish question. The activities of the union were aimed at protecting the state-forming people, including from oppression by Jews. Also, the “allies” were concerned about the increased activity of Jewish organizations, the active participation of Jews in politics and revolutionary movement. In general, the "Union" advocated stricter enforcement of the law regarding the Jewish population of the empire, and against the softening of legislation that took place in pre-revolutionary times.
Individual members of the union had different points view on the Jewish question. Some advocated the complete deprivation of Jews of all rights and expressed openly anti-Semitic positions. This was the attitude of many of the main ideologists of the “Union”, such as Georgy Butmi and A.S. Shmakov. Publications controlled by the “Union” published a lot of literature denouncing Jews, including provocative materials, such as “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.” Other members of the organization held a different point of view, condemning the rabid Judeophobes, and often coinciding with the Zionists in supporting the desire of the Jews to gain their own state in Palestine.
The Black Hundred unions, as the extreme right themselves stated, were aimed primarily at “simple, black, working people.” They managed to attract more members to their banner than all Russian political parties combined. A comprehensive analysis of sources allows us to establish that at the time of the greatest flowering of the Black Hundreds, which occurred in 1907-1908, there were more than 400,000 members in the ranks of monarchical organizations. The downside of mass membership was the looseness and amorphous nature of the Black Hundred organizations. Most members of monarchical unions were registered in them only in name.
The social composition of the extreme right unions was extremely diverse and, along with peasants, artisans, and factory workers, the intelligentsia and student youth were represented in the monarchical unions. Leading positions in monarchical organizations were most often occupied by nobles. Representatives of the clergy, both white and black, played a major role in organizational and educational activities; quite a few of them were subsequently canonized.
Declassed elements made up a small part of the members of the extreme right unions. However, this picture changes dramatically when looking at the composition of the Black Hundred fighting squads. Criminal elements set the tone in the fighting squads. And although the number of combatants was not comparable with the number of members of monarchical unions, in public opinion the image of the Black Hundreds was associated precisely with them.
About the Black Hundred terror - in the next post.
In connection with the revolutionary events of 1905, about fifty political parties were formed in Russia - both small-town and large, with a network of cells throughout the country. They can be classified into three directions - radical revolutionary democratic, liberal opposition and monarchical conservative parties of Russia. The latter will mainly be discussed in this article.
Batch creation process
Historically, the formation of various political parties occurs with precise systematicity. Opposition left parties are the first to be formed. During the revolution of 1905, that is, a little after the signing of the October Manifesto, numerous centrist parties were formed, uniting, for the most part, the intelligentsia.
And finally, as a reaction to the Manifesto, the right appeared - the monarchical and conservative parties of Russia. Interesting fact: all these parties disappeared from the historical stage in reverse order: the right was swept away February Revolution, then the October Revolution abolished the centrists. Moreover most of Left parties united with the Bolsheviks or dissolved themselves in the 20s, when show trials of their leaders began.
List and leaders
The Conservative Party - not a single one - was destined to survive 1917. They were all born at different times, and died almost simultaneously. The conservative party "Russian Assembly" existed longer than all the others, because it was created earlier - in 1900. It will be discussed in more detail below.
Conservative Russian People" was founded in 1905, the leaders were Dubrovin and from 1912 - Markov. The "Union of Russian People" existed from 1905 to 1911, then until 1917 purely formally. V. A. Gringmut in the same 1905 founded the Russian which later became "Russian Monarchical Union".
High-born aristocrats also had their own conservative party - the “United Nobility”, created in 1906. The famous Russian People's Union of the Archangel was led by V. M. Purishkevich. The national conservative party "All-Russian National Union" disappeared already in 1912, it was led by Balashov and Shulgin.
The moderate right party ceased to exist in 1910. The “All-Russian Dubrovinsky Union of the Russian People” managed to form only in 1912. Even later, the conservative party “Fatherland Patriotic Union” was created by leaders Orlov and Skvortsov in 1915. A.I. Guchkov assembled his “Union of the Seventeenth of October” in 1906 (the same Octobrists). Here are approximately all the main conservative parties in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century.
"Russian meeting"
St. Petersburg became the birthplace of the RS - "Russian Assembly" in November 1900. The poet V. L. Velichko in a narrow circle complained that he was constantly haunted by vague, but clearly prophetic visions of Russia being captured by some dark forces. He proposed creating a kind of commonwealth of Russian people, ready to withstand future adversity. This is how the RS party began - beautifully and patriotically. Already in January 1901, the RS charter was ready and the leadership was elected. As historian A.D. Stepanov put it at the first meeting, the Black Hundred movement was born.
So far, this did not sound as threatening as, say, eighteen or twenty years later. The charter was approved by Senator Durnovo and sealed with warm words full of bright hope. Initially, the RS meetings were similar to a Slavophile literary and artistic club.
Intellectuals, officials, clergy and landowners gathered there. Cultural and educational goals were put at the forefront. However, after the revolution of 1905, thanks to its activities, the RS ceased to be like other conservative parties in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. It became clearly right-wing monarchist.
Activity
At first, the RS organized discussions of reports and organized theme nights. Meetings took place on Fridays and were devoted to political and social issues. “Literary Mondays” were also popular. All “Fridays” were first handled by V.V. Komarov, but they became popular and influential in the fall of 1902, when V.L. Velichko became their leader.
Since 1901, in addition to “Mondays” and “Fridays,” separate meetings began (here it should be noted the activity of the Outskirts Department, chaired by Professor A. M. Zolotarev, later this department became an independent organization of the “Russian Outskirts Society”). Since 1903, under the leadership of N. A. Engelhardt, “literary Tuesdays” became increasingly popular.
Already in 1901, the “Russian Assembly” numbered more than a thousand people, and in 1902 - six hundred more. Political activity boiled down to the fact that, starting from 1904, petitions and loyal subjects were periodically submitted to the Tsar, deputations were organized to the palace and propaganda was carried out in periodicals.
Deputations at different times were graced by the presence of Princes Golitsyn and Volkonsky, Count Apraksin, Archpriest Bogolyubov, and no less famous people- Engelhardt, Zolotarev, Mordvinov, Leontyev, Puryshev, Bulatov, Nikolsky. The Emperor received the RS delegations with enthusiasm. Nicholas II, one might say, loved and trusted conservative political parties.
MS and revolutionary turmoil
In 1905 and 1906, the “Russian Assembly” did nothing special, and nothing happened to it, except for the post-revolutionary circular, which prohibited military personnel from being members of any political communities tsarist army. Then the liberal and conservative parties lost many of their members, and its founder, A. M. Zolotarev, left the RS.
In February 1906, the RS organized an all-Russian congress in St. Petersburg. In fact, the Russian Assembly became a party only in 1907, when the program of the Conservative Party was adopted and amendments were made to the charter. Now the RS could elect and be elected to State Duma and the State Council.
The basis of the program was the motto: “Orthodoxy, Autocracy, Nationality.” The Russian Assembly did not miss a single monarchist congress. However, it took a long time to create an independent political faction. The first and second Dumas did not give the RS a chance, so the party decided not to nominate candidates, on the contrary, to vote for the extreme left (such a trick against the Octobrists and Cadets). Political position at the Third and Fourth Dumas, she definitely did not recommend that her deputies bloc with centrists (Octobrists) and even with moderate right-wing nationalist parties.
Schisms
Until the end of 1908, passions raged in the monarchist camp, which resulted in splits in many organizations. For example, the conflict between Purishkevich and Dubrovin split the “Union of the Russian People”, after which the “Union of Archangel Michael” appeared. Opinions in the RS were also divided. The party was haunted by quarrels, departures and deaths, but especially by bureaucratic carrion.
By 1914, the leaders of the RS decided to completely depoliticize the party, seeing educational and cultural orientation as the right path to resolving conflicts. However, the war deepened all the fault lines in relations, since the Markovites were for the immediate conclusion of peace with Germany, and Purishkevich’s supporters, on the contrary, they needed a war to a victorious end. As a result, by the February Revolution, the “Russian Assembly” had outlived its usefulness and turned into a small circle of Slavophile tendencies.
NRC
The Union of the Russian People is another organization representing conservative parties. The table demonstrates how high passionarity was at the beginning of the twentieth century - all kinds of societies and communities multiplied like mushrooms in the autumn rain. The RNC party began to operate in 1905. Its program and activities were entirely based on chauvinistic and even more anti-Semitic ideas of a monarchical kind.
Orthodox radicalism especially distinguished the views of its members. The RNC was actively opposed to any kind of revolution and parliamentarism, advocated for the indivisibility and unity of Russia and advocated joint actions of the authorities and the people, who would be an advisory body under the sovereign. This organization, naturally, was banned immediately after the end of the February Revolution, and recently, in 2005, they tried to recreate it.
Historical background
Russian nationalism has never been alone in the world. The nineteenth century was marked by nationalist movements everywhere. In Russia, active political activity could only appear during a state crisis, after the defeat in the war with the Japanese and a cascade of revolutions. Only then did the king decide to support the initiative of right-wing social groups.
First, the above-mentioned elite organization “Russian Assembly” appeared, which had nothing in common with the people, and its activities did not find sufficient response among the intelligentsia. Naturally, such an organization could not resist the revolution. Just like other political parties - liberal, conservative. The people no longer needed right-wing, but left-wing, revolutionary organizations.
The “Union of Russian People” united in its ranks only the highest nobility, idealized the pre-Petrine era and recognized only the peasantry, merchants and nobility; it did not recognize the cosmopolitan intelligentsia either as a class or as a stratum. The course of the government was criticized by the SRL for the measures it took international loans, believing that in this way the authorities are ruining the Russian people.
RNC and terror
The “Union of the Russian People” was created - the largest of the monarchical unions - on the initiative of several people at the same time: the doctor Dubrovin, the abbot Arseny and the artist Maikov. Alexander Dubrovin, a member of the Russian Assembly, became the leader. He turned out to be a good organizer, politically sensitive and energetic person. He easily came into contact with the government and administration and convinced many that only mass patriotism could save the current order, that a society was needed that would carry out and mass actions, and individual terror.
Conservative parties of the 20th century begin to engage in terror - this was something new. Nevertheless, the movement received support of all kinds: police, political and financial. The Tsar blessed the RNC with all his heart in the hope that even terror is better than the inactivity demonstrated by other conservative parties in Russia.
In December 1905, a mass meeting was organized in the Mikhailovsky Manege of the RNC, where about twenty thousand people gathered. Prominent people spoke - famous monarchists, bishops. The people demonstrated unity and enthusiasm. The "Russian Banner" newspaper was published by the "Union of the Russian People". The Tsar received deputations, listened to reports and accepted gifts from the leaders of the Union. For example, the insignia of members of the RNC, which both the Tsar and the Tsarevich wore from time to time.
Meanwhile, the RNC's calls of absolutely pogrom and anti-Semitic content were replicated among the people using millions of rubles received from the treasury. This organization grew at a tremendous pace, regional sections were opened in almost all major cities of the empire, in a few months - more than sixty branches.
Congress, charter, program
In August 1906, the charter of the RNC was approved. It contained the main ideas of the party, its program of action and the concept of development. This document was rightfully considered the best among all the charters of monarchical societies, because it was short, clear and precise in wording. At the same time, a congress of leaders from all regions was convened to coordinate activities and centralize them.
The organization became paramilitary due to the new structure. All ordinary party members were divided into tens, tens into hundreds, and hundreds into thousands, respectively, subordinate to tens, centurions and thousands. The organization of such a plan was good for popularity among the people. The monarchist movement was particularly active in Kyiv, and a huge part of the RNC members lived in Little Russia.
The deeply revered John of Kronstadt - the All-Russian priest, as he was called - arrived at the St. Michael's Manege for the next celebration on the occasion of the consecration of the banner, as well as the banner of the RNC. He gave a welcoming speech and later joined the RNC himself, and until the very end he was an honorary member of this Union.
To prevent revolutions and maintain order, the RNC kept self-defense on alert, often armed. The "White Guard" from Odessa is a particularly well-known squad of this kind. The principle of formation of self-defense is a military Cossack with esauls, atamans and foremen. Such squads existed at all factories in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Camber
By its fourth congress, the RNC was the first among Russian monarchist parties. It had over nine hundred branches, and the vast majority of the delegates were members of this Union. But then contradictions began among the leaders. Purishkevich tried to remove Dubrovin from business, and he soon succeeded. He pulled all the publishing and organizational work to himself; many leaders of local branches no longer listened to anyone except Purishkevich. This also affected many of the founders of the RNC.
And a conflict arose that went so far that the most powerful organization quickly came to naught. Purishkevich in 1908 created his own “Union named after Archangel Michael”, and the Moscow department left the RNC. The Tsar's Manifesto on October 17 finally split the RNC, since the attitude towards the creation of the Duma was completely different. Then there was a terrorist attack with the murder of a prominent State Duma deputy, in which Dubrovin’s supporters and himself were accused.
The St. Petersburg department of the RNC in 1909 simply removed Dubrovin from power, leaving him with honorary membership in the Union, and very quickly ousted his like-minded people from all posts. Until 1912, Dubrovin tried to fight for a place in the sun, but realized that nothing could be returned, and in August he registered the charter of the Dubrovin Union, after which regional branches began to break away from the center one after another. All this did not add to the authority of the RNC organization, and it completely collapsed. Conservative parties (right) were sure that the government was afraid of the power of this Union, and Stolypin personally played a huge role in its collapse.
Prohibition
It got to the point that the RNC formed a single bloc with the Octobrists. Subsequently, attempts were made repeatedly to recreate a single monarchical organization, but no one achieved success. And the February Revolution banned monarchist parties, inciting them against the leaders trials. Then came the October Revolution and most of the leaders of the RNC faced death during these years. Those who remained were reconciled, having erased all past contradictions, by the White movement.
Soviet historians considered the RNC to be an absolutely fascist organization, which far predated their appearance in Italy. Even the RNC participants themselves wrote many years later that the “Union of the Russian People” became the historical predecessor of fascism (one of the leaders, Markov-2, wrote about this with pride). V. Laqueur is confident that the Black Hundreds have gone about halfway from the reactionary movements of the nineteenth century to the right-wing populist (that is, fascist) parties of the twentieth century.
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