A.F. Koni – member of the State Council of the Russian Empire (1907–1917)

Abstract

This article deals with an issue completely unknown in our historiography. This is the story of the shadow leadership of one of the major public figures of the Russian Empire – Anatoly Fedorovich Koni. Using his many connections and being outside of political parties, the member of the State Council promoted liberal ideas through parliament. Without entering into a confrontation with the monarchy and dealing with social issues (drunkenness, prostitution, education, judicial reform, etc.), the senator, however, never abandoned his principles and promoted them wherever possible. Anatoly Fedorovich supported the creation of a people’s university and the expansion of funding the fleet and the army, protested against the liquidation of Finnish autonomy and the abuse of Article 87 of the Fundamental Laws of the Empire. As a conservative liberal, he strove for a smooth evolution of the state towards the expansion of human rights and Europeanization while maintaining the autocratic system. At the same time, Koni understood that the ruling elite was leading the country to disaster. The rise of the famous lawyer’s political career began in 1916, when he got the opportunity to speak on the part of a group of united liberals and demand to take urgent measures to change the situation in the country.