What does Pestel's Russkaya Pravda say?

Both Murav'ev's Constitution and Russkaya Pravda by Pestel are considered to be one of the main sources on which one can study the convictions of the Decembrists. Officially, only a document written by the head of the Southern Society was adopted.

However, the "Constitution", proposed by Nikita Mikhailovich Muravyov, acquired at one time a wide popularity and reflected the political views of members of the Northern Society.

PI Pestel "Russian Truth": the history of the document

The main points of the "reserve letter" were submitted to the Southern Society and approved by him in 1823. But his full title received this document after a year. Pestel PI worked on his brainchild for four years. He originally intended to write ten chapters, but as a result, there were only five of them: about the tribes inhabiting the country, and about the estates inhabiting it, about the land, and also about the people, both civilly and politically. The main ideas of the new Decembrist Constitution were borrowed from philosophers of the Enlightenment.

"Pravda PI" on the national question

Pavel Ivanovich proposed to divide the entire population of the country into three categories:

1) Slavic tribes.

2) Indigenous Russian people.

3) Tribes attached to Russia.

It was suggested, for example, to evict Gypsies from the borders of the country if they did not agree to accept the Orthodox faith. Muslims could be saved religion, but renounce polygamy. Jews, in the case of continued hostility towards Christians, must be collected and evicted to the territory of Turkey with the subsequent formation there of a Jewish state.

"Pravda PI" on the rights of citizens

All citizens bear the same responsibility before the law, a new court was introduced for them. Men, from the age of twenty, gain the right to vote. Freedom of religion, movement, assembly, press and speech was envisaged. The inviolability of the home and its owner was guaranteed.

"Russian Truth" Pestel PI on the state issue

Pavel Ivanovich fervently advocated for the establishment of a republic in the country. He was sure that after the overthrow of the tsarist power the state would become an indivisible whole. The plans were to divide Russia into regions (ten), which would consist of five districts or provinces, which in turn were divided into districts or counties, and the latter - at the volost. Nizhny Novgorod was supposed to be called Vladimir and move the capital there. And the city of Vladimir, in order to avoid imminent confusion, is called Klyazmin, since he stands on the river Klyazma. The People's Chamber, consisting of five hundred people, was supposed to have legislative power, and the Power Duma - executive. Five people making up the last, for five years would be elected by the People's Veche. In submission to the State Duma should be all the ministries.

"Russian Truth" Pestel PI on the land issue

First of all serfdom was planned to be completely abolished. With regard to the arable land Pestel went on a compromise. He enjoined that one half of it should go for social needs, and the second - still remain in the hands of the landlords. Farmers could lease land from owners to organize large farms and thus attract hired workers. Pestel explained this decision by saying that peasants do not have the capital or education necessary for the competent disposal of land. But even with such a seemingly limiting, for that time his project was more than radical.