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PHJ № 2 (50) 2026 — D. A. Barinov. STUDENT FRATERNITIES OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE: FROM NATIONAL TO POLITICAL

Modern historiography of higher education convincingly demonstrates that national organisations(primarily regional associations) were among the most representative in the student environment at the turnof the 19th and 20th centuries. The author of the article attempts to trace the transition from politicizationof such associations to political struggle. Using materials from St. Petersburg University, it was possible todemonstrate that some political, neutral (cultural or economic) organizations of a national nature fell intothe orbit of larger radical parties, which often fought for influence over a specific circle. Other associationsgradually gained popularity and became independent parties / movements that claimed pan-imperial andregional coverage (the Belarusian Socialist Community, the Revolutionary Ukrainian Party, the Latvian “New Current”, etc.). At the same time, the movements that formed, despite their democratic slogans, were of anintellectual nature and arose far from the people whose interests they planned to defend. Agitation work wastransferred from large cities to the periphery later. The creation and politicization of national organizationswas facilitated by the democratic student environment, which the Tsarist government was powerless tocontrol. Upon entering the university, a young person became involved in public life and, indirectly, in formsof political struggle, which was encouraged by the illegal status of even non-political communities.

PHJ № 1 (49) 2026 — M. V. Druzin. “EVERYTHING WORSHIPS ONLY POWER…”: NOTE BY PRINCE S. S. ABAMELEK-LAZAREV ON MEASURES TO SUPPRESS THE REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT IN RUSSIA (AUGUST 1906)

The published note by Prince Semyon Semyonovich Abamelek-Lazarev is one example of the notes and petitions from 1905–1906 received from right-wing and Black Hundred organizations and individuals of like views, proposing a wide variety of measures to the emperor and government to suppress the revolutionary movement. S. S. Abamelek-Lazarev, a well-known entrepreneur, mine owner, and Russia’s largest landowner, was not politically savvy. However, he saw the approaching revolution as a direct threat to his holdings and capital, and therefore, the fear of losing everything compelled him to write a “political” note annually from 1905–1907. While the note from the summer of 1905 was distinguished by its length, verbosity, and overall calm tone, the note from August 1906, published here, is practically hysterical, with the prince demanding that rebels and pogromists be killed on the spot, tried by military courts, and exiled to Siberian penal servitude along with their families. The note demonstrates that S. S. Abamelek-Lazarev, having embraced and exploited the economic benefits and opportunities of the new post-reform capitalist order, rejected and failed to understand the need for political change in the social order.

PHJ № 1 (49) 2026 — V. M. Tarelko. YMCA ACTIVITIES IN RUSSIA DURING WORLD WAR I: ORGANIZING ASSISTANCE TO GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN PRISONERS OF WAR

This article is an attempt to consider the history of humanitarian assistance to German and Austrian prisoners of war, provided by the YMCA organization during the WWI: to summarize the results of the activities of organization’s secretaries in the camps located in the Kiev, Irkutsk, and Turkestan military districts, to identify the features, nature and mechanisms of their work. The article is based on materials from the American periodical press and archival sources stored in the funds of the Russian State Historical Archive and the Russian State Military Historical Archive. The author conclusion is, that in a short period of time, the YMCA has achieved significant success in providing assistance to prisoners of war. This success was entirely due to the tireless work of the YMCA secretaries in the field, which was sometimes complicated by the significant extent of the territories entrusted to them, the lack of railway service, and severe weather conditions. The implementation of the YMCA program depended entirely on the personal qualities of the secretaries, their involvement in problem solving and diplomacy, which ensured effective contact with both prisoners of war and the military commandant’s office. YMCA’s work in Russia constituted the largest and most extensive international initiative to assist prisoners of war, providing both material support and opportunities for intellectual and cultural development. The article also analyzes the impact of this work on Russian-American relations and on the humanitarian policy of the United States during the war period.

PHJ № 1 (49) 2026 — L. A. Gerd. FRANCO-RUSSIAN RIVALRY IN EASTERN THRACE (1856–1870S)

The end of the 1850s and the 1860s were a period of the highest tension in the Greek-Bulgarian counter-action in the church-national question. The struggle of the Bulgarians against the Greek high clergy was used by the diplomacy of the powers (Russia, France and Great Britain) for strengthening of their influence in the Balkans. The Russian representatives supported Orthodoxy, while the French diplomats and missionaries tried to convert the Bulgarians into the Union with Rome. The article is focused on the methods of struggle of the Bulgarian population of Adrianople and Eastern Thrace, used by the secular and religious agents of the concurrent powers (Russia and France), and the results of their activities. Basing on the reports of French diplomats conclusions are made concerning the missionary work in the colonial policy of France in the third quarter of the 19th century.

PHJ № 1 (49) 2026 — G. V. Krivchenkov. FORMS OF CHARITY DURING THE RUSSO-TURKISH WAR OF 1877–1878 (BASED ON MATERIALS FROM THE SMOLENSK PROVINCE)

The article deals with the organization and holding of charitable events during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 in the Smolensk province. The main attention is paid to the joint work of the provincial administration of the Red Cross, city government bodies and the landed gentry in opening hospitals in the province. Ladies of the noble class participated in the organization of charity circles at the provincial administration of the Red Cross. Ladies’ circles provided daily care for the sick sent by the Kyiv evacuation commission to the province for treatment. Material support for ladies’ circles was provided by the landed gentry. The activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in collecting donations for the army and navy, the role of the peasant community in providing material assistance to soldiers and their families are examined. In order to collect funds, the clergy established a collection of donations from parishioners during the liturgy, and the parish clergy accepted humanitarian aid for the army from local residents. Due to poverty, Smolensk peasants often participated in charitable events by collecting food and things that they themselves used in everyday life. Peasants donated warm clothes for the transportation of wounded soldiers from railway stations to medical institutions in the winter. The peasant community made decisions on collecting donations at village meetings. According to reports from Red Cross commissioners and officers, the humanitarian aid from Smolensk was of
good quality. The author concludes that the mass participation of the population in charitable activities during the war years is associated with the idea of its fair nature.

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PHJ № 1 (49) 2026 — N. A. Khrebtov. “THE ERADICATION OF ENEMIES AND CRIMINALS”: THE PERFORMANCE OF POLICE AND FISCAL TASKS BY MILITARY PERSONNEL OF THE GARRISONS OF THE NORTH OF RUSSIA IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 18TH CENTURY

Garrison troops, as an integral part of the Russian army, were created under Peter the Great. During the 18th century, they were reformed and underwent structural changes. In addition, the functionality of this type of troops has also changed. Extensive modern historiography devoted to service in the garrisons in the 18th century examines the problems of military service and tasks but does not provide a comprehensive assessment. The funds of the State Archive of the Arkhangelsk Region and the National Archive of the Republic of Karelia store a significant number of reports, lists, orders and other materials covering this topic in detail. Based on the analysis of the Russian North garrisons’ office records and legislative acts, it was possible to conclude that police and fiscal tasks occupied an important place in the official duties of the garrison officer.

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PHJ № 4 (48) 2025 — A. A. Chapaev. ON THE UNOBVIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF MARCH 1, 1881: ON THE ISSUE OF THE CREATION OF THE SOCIETY OF LODGING HOUSES IN ST. PETERSBURG AND THE ROLE OF DR. N. N. DVORYASHIN

The article examines the role of Dr. N. N. Dvoryashin in the process of establishing the Society of Lodging Houses in St. Petersburg, one of the most important public organisations that emerged in the capital of the Russian Empire in the last third of the 19th century. The significance of this institution for St. Petersburg as the primary industrial center of the country is considerable. The organisers of this society furnished seasonal workers with affordable and hygienic lodging, a provision that would otherwise have exposed the workers to a considerable risk of illness, homelessness, and criminal exploitation, effectively transforming them from contributors to the city’s economy to a burden on its resources and, in some cases, a potential threat to its stability. Notwithstanding, the implementation of Dr. N. N. Dvoryashin’s concept required a period exceeding a decade. The subject of providing assistance to the homeless was first addressed by him in 1869. However, for there to be any change, events had to unfold in the most unanticipated manner. Indeed, the sequence of events was tragic, yet it proved conducive to the actualisation of the aforementioned concept. It was only after N. N. Dvoryashin’s proximity to the deathbed of the emperor that he was able to initiate the registration of his charitable society. In this regard, particular attention is warranted by the manner in which this process was influenced by the shift in the perception of his personality, contingent on the historical circumstances in which he was destined to become a direct participant.

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PHJ № 4 (48) 2025 — S. S. Kurochkin. D. A. MILYUTIN’S VIEWS ON THE BALKAN POLICY OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE IN 1861–1877

This article provides an examination of the political standpoint adopted by Dmitry Milyutin, Minister of War of the Russian Empire, with regard to the policy of the Russian Empire in the Balkan region during the period 1861–1877. The analysis of official data and personal sources from the minister’s personal archival fund has revealed a divergence of views between him and the Foreign Minister, Alexander Gorchakov, on the issues of international relations related to the ‘Eastern question’. This research has enabled the investigation of the search for solutions to international crises arising from the internal instability of the Ottoman Empire. The present study draws upon a range of historical sources to provide a detailed examination of the military cooperation that was established between the Russian Empire and the Principality of Serbia during the 1860s. The present study has sought to analyse the personal sources related to the period of the Great Eastern Crisis (1875–1877) to investigate the participation of Dmitry Milyutin in the decision-making process that led to the declaration of war on the Ottoman Empire.

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PHJ № 4 (48) 2025 — A. V. Rozhina. INSURANCE OF CHURCH REAL ESTATE IN RUSSIA 1860–1870: THE FIRST EXPERIENCE OF ALEXANDER NEVSKY LAVRA

The study of insurance of church real estate commenced in the late 19th century, yet this subject remains under-researched. The church was a prominent socio-cultural institution within the Russian Empire during the 19th century. The article presents the findings of a study conducted on the insurance of buildings at Alexander Nevsky Lavra, which was undertaken in conjunction with an initiative to establish economic provisions for the compensation of expenses incurred in the event of a fire. In the 1860s and 1870s, the following structures were insured: the buildings of Lavra in Saint Petersburg, located on Nevsky Prospekt, Shlisselburg Prospekt, the embankment of the Black River, the embankment of the Great Neva, the music hall, the stable yard on Blackcrake Street and the brick factory. A thorough analysis of archival materials and published legislative acts has been conducted, revealing the features of insurance of church real estate in commercial societies on a voluntary basis. The acceptance of ‘on a risk’ of church property proved to be a lucrative undertaking for insurance companies. Initially, two companies claimed to insure the Lavra property: the Russian Insurance Company and the Saint Petersburg Insurance Company. This occurred during the 1970s. In the 19th century, the insurance of real estate was conducted by the Commercial Insurance Society. Insurance played a pivotal role in the preservation of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra property, as evidenced by the compensation paid in the event of fires, thereby enabling the restoration of damaged structures. The practice of insuring church buildings on a voluntary basis in the late 19th century was highly relevant, as it facilitated the effective organisation of the process of mutual insurance of church real estate on a mandatory basis at the beginning of the 20th century. An examination of the insurance business and acceptance ‘on fear’. The buildings belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church contribute to our understanding of the specifics of economic development in Russia during the years of the Great Reforms. They also demonstrate the search for solutions to economic mechanisms that protect property from fire.

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PHJ № 4 (48) 2025 — A. T. Urushadze. THE CAUCASUS GOVERNANCE REFORM OF 1844–1845 IN GOVERNMENT DISCUSSIONS AND THE PUBLIC SPHERE

The article is devoted to the reform of the administration of the Caucasus in 1844–1845. This transformation was connected with the appointment of M. S. Vorontsov to the post of the Caucasian governor with broad administrative rights and privileges. The article offers a new approach to the analysis of this historical event. Firstly, it is emphasized that the expansion of the rights of the head of the regional administration occurred as early as 1842. Secondly, it is argued that after deciding to appoint Mikhail Vorontsov to the Caucasus, Emperor Nicholas I was forced to formulate special conditions for this appointment. This came as a surprise to State Secretary M. P. Posen, who supervised the transformation of the regional administration. The administrative rights and prerogatives of the Caucasian governor were determined as a result of a discussion about the contents of the supreme rescript to the Caucasian governor. The article is based on both published and archived historical evidence.