06.02.1997

In Russia

From The Call, paper of the British Socialist Party, February 1 1917

A telegram, dated January 16, says that the Russian government has prohibited the sending of books, papers, magazines and all kinds of printed matter to countries outside Russia as from January 1 (14).

According to Nachalo, an order was issued at Petrograd on December 13 (26) which announces that a fine up to 3,000 roubles (£300) or incarceration for three months will be imposed for:

1. spreading “articles or sham information which excites hostility against the government”;
2. praising criminal acts, etc;
3. for “inadvertently making public without due reason or spreading news not necessarily false, but which alarms the public in regard to certain officials or military chiefs”.

According to Nachalo, on December 9 (22) a congress of the zemstvos was to have taken place at Moscow. The chief of the police declared to Prince Lvov, the president, that he had instructions to prevent the opening of the congress. The delegates assembled at another place, and passed a resolution on the political situation in Russia. The resolution was passed unanimously, as well as a motion protesting against the action of the police. The chief of police entered the hall at this juncture, and the congress was brought to an end. The papers are not allowed to publish the resolution.

On the same date the congress of the Union of Towns was to take place at Moscow. Chelnokov, the president, only succeeded in reading out a letter from Trepov, who wrote that it was useless and undesirable to hold such a congress. The police interfered and the delegates left under protest.

A number of other meetings were forbidden by the government.