Abolition of the institution of Zemstvo district chiefs in the Russian Empire in March 1917 (on the example of Belarusian provinces)

Abstract

The article deals in an abolition of the positions of Zemstvo district chiefs in the Belarusian provinces during the February Revolution of 1917. Positions were introduced in the Russian Empire in 1889 in order to strengthen government control over the peasantry. As a rule, the positions of Zemstvo district chiefs were taken over by local and lords. Those officials were subordinated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Along with administrative powers, they were given judicial functions in relation to peasants (previously it was under the jurisdiction of justices of the peace). It contradicted the principle of separating the judiciary from administrative authority and put the peasants in  an unequal legal position compared to  other estates. In  the  Belarusian provinces the positions of Zemstvo district chiefs existed until March 1917, when their activity was terminated  by the Provisional  Government. The  liquidation of  those positions  during  the  February  Revolution looked  like  a completely natural measure in the context of trend of renewal and democratization of public life. At the same time, in practice, then often led to vacuum of judicial power in rural areas and made it almost impossible for local authorities to maintain law and order.