TERRITORIAL (ZEMSKY) DISTRICT CHIEFS AS AN OBJECT OF CONTROL (BASING ON THE EXAMPLE OF TAMBOV PROVINCE)

Abstract

The institution of zemsky chiefs as an object of control from higher authorities is considered. It is interesting to mention that zemsky chiefs were totally controlled though they themselves had a lot of powers: administrative and judicial functions, participating in commissions etc. The authorities obeyed “the county congress” which consisted of administrative and judicial attendance. Analysis of the following research showed that the county congress was same nobleman’s institution as zemsky chiefs. Thus, control was rather formal. Revisions of zemsky districts were rare. In Tambov province they took place between 1906-1909, in 1912 and in 1915. In most cases the revisions had successful results despite the found mistakes. So the control existed but it was formal enough. Nearly all zemsky chiefs except for some had support. All these factors made the power of authorities enormous, able to interfere into many aspect of peasants’ life.