The Russian Assembly , political organization

Categories / Social Life/Political Parties and Organizations
The RUSSIAN ASSEMBLY was a monarchical organization. It appeared in the beginning of October 1900 as a circle of top St. Petersburg officials and representatives of intelligentsia, adherents of the Russian style in life of the society. A.S. Suvorin, K.Y. Grot, N.P. Kondakov, N.P. Likhachev, N.V. Pokrovsky, N.N. Sukhotin, M.M. Koyalovich et. al. participated in the Constituent Assembly of 16 January 1901. The Charter was approved on 26 January 1901. There were writers and publicists among the members of the Russian Assembly included V.L. Velichko, Prince M.V. Volkonsky, N.A. Engelgardt, Prince D.P. Golitsyn. In 1903-16, News of the Russian Assembly were published, in 1906 it was renamed Messenger of the Russian Assembly. Initially the Russian Assembly was engaged in teaching and education. The Assembly organized music and history events, readings, exhibitions etc. From 1905 on, The Russian Assembly was one of the rightist party organizations, many of its members (A.I. Dubrovin, V.M. Purishkevich, N.N. Rodzevich et. al.) were top members in a number of rightist parties and unions. The programme of the Russian Assembly, adopted on 28 December 1906 declared the adherence of the organization to autocracy, unity of the Russian Empire, priority of the state interests, and the leading role of the Russian people. The Russian Assembly initiated calling of the First, Second and Third Congresses of Monarchists (the Second Congress was held in St. Petersburg in 1906). During 1906, the number of members of the Russian Assembly increased from 1,800 to 4,500. The Russian Assembly was headed by the Council consisting of 17 people (the members of the first Council included Prince D.P. Golitsyn as the Chairman, and the following members: Chamberlain I.S. Leontyev, Count P.N. Apraksin, Prince V.V. Volkonsky, Count N.F. Heiden, N.A. Engelgardt et. al.). There were local departments in 15 cities. In the years of the World War I in 1914-18 the Russian Assembly was mainly engaged in charitable activities. In August 1914, the Ladies' Committee was created which gathered donations for the front, and opened a field hospital in Tsarskoe Selo for 100 beds. In contrast to other monarchical organizations, the Russian Assembly continued to exist after February Revolution of 1917. Originally the Russian Assembly rented the building on Troitskaya Square in St. Petersburg, in 1908; the house in Kuznechny Lane was purchased for the organization, where the Gymnasium of the Russian Assembly was also housed. After October 1917, the activity of the Russian Assembly was discontinued.

References: Устав Русского собрания. СПб., 1901; Дом и гимназия Русского собрания. СПб., 1910; Лукоянов И. В. Русское собрание // Россия в XIX - ХХ вв.: Сб. ст. к 70-летию со дня рождения Р. Ш. Ганелина. СПб., 1998. С. 165-171.

A. V. Repnikov. Apraksin Peter Nikolaevich, Count
Dubrovin Alexander Ivanovich
Engelgardt Nikolay Alexandrovich
Golitsyn Dmitry Petrovich
Grot Konstantin Yakovlevich
Heiden Nikolay Fedorovich, Count
Kondakov Nikodim Pavlovich
Koyalovich Mikhail Mikhailovich
Leontyev I.S.
Likhachev Nikolay Petrovich
Pokrovsky Nikolay Vasilievich
Purishkevich Vladimir Mitrofanovich
Rodzevich Nikolay Nikolaevich
Sukhotin N.N.
Suvorin Alexey Sergeevich
Velichko Vasily Lvovich
Volkonsky V.V., Duke
Volkonsky Vladimir Mikhailovich, Duke
Kuznechny Lane/Saint Petersburg, city
Rubinsteina St./Saint Petersburg, city
Устав "Русского собрания". СПб., 1901
Дом и гимназия Русского собрания. СПб., 1910
Лукоянов И. В. Русское собрание // Россия в XIX - ХХ вв.: Сб. ст. к 70-летию со дня рождения Р. Ш. Ганелина. СПб., 1998 February Revolution of 1917