Title: THE MAIN PROBLEMS OF GOVERNING THE SOUTHWESTERN KRAI OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE AFTER THE 1863 JANUARY UPRISING
Abstract: The article analyzes the imperial policy in the Volhynian, Kiev and Podolsk governorates after the suppression of the 1863 January Uprising. The specifics of the concept of the Russian administration’s activities in this territory were determined not only by the characteristics of the region (the small number of the Polish population, compared with the Lithuanian-Belarusian provinces, the smaller scope of the rebels’ actions in 1863–1864), but also by the personal qualities of top-level administration officials. Based on the reports of such governors-general of the Southwestern Krai as N. N. Annenkov, A. P. Bezak, A. M. Dondukov-Korsakov, the main problems that the Russian administration faced in weakening Polish influence in the region were identified and analyzed. The author concludes that all three governor-generals considered the creation of a Russian landlord layer in the region to be the main task, which should have been the best guarantee of weakening Polish influence. At the same time, the implementation of the peasant reform as a way to strengthen imperial power, as well as issues of economic development of the region, pushed into the background. The specificity of the views of each of the governors-general was revealed. N. N. Annenkov was opposed to the use of mass repressions against the Poles, emergency measures and the excessive strengthening of local Orthodox peasants at the expense of the landlords. A. P. Bezak’s key task was the fight against the influence of the Catholic Church. Of great importance for A. M. Dondukov-Korsakov were the Jewish and Czech questions. He regarded Jews as an element absolutely alien to Russian society, whereas clearly overestimating the political benefits associated with the appearance of Czech colonists in the region.