Public awareness in the context of the state and legal policy of 19th century Russia in the fight against epidemics

The purpose of the research is to justify the influence of the public awareness factor on the effectiveness of state and legal policy in the fight against epidemics in 19th century Russia. The methodology of the research consisted of dialectical method of knowledge, problem-chronological, structural and functional, comparative-legal, formal-legal and biographical methods. The scientific novelty lies in the author’s classification of organizational and legal measures aimed at combating epidemics. The state, showing concern for the protection of public health, has established a set of legal measures aimed at ensuring sanitary-epidemic safety. These measures should be classified into three groups: sanitary and prohibition measures, which were entrusted to the local authorities with the function of police surveillance; information and prevention and suppression of the spread of epidemic diseases; measures related to quarantine institutions and quarantine measures within the empire. The research reveals the evolution of special, service competencies of the authorities and administration related to the protection of life and health of the population. Awareness as a legal category, aimed at the adequate perception of the state-legal measures related to life safety, all participants in legal relations. In this context, public awareness acted as an important component of the state-legal policy of Russia in the fight against epidemics, contributing to the formation of national legal consciousness and legal culture of subjects. The conclusion is made that the state's power in its activities to ensure public safety acted taking into account the needs of the entire society, guaranteeing the protection of health and life not only to the privileged classes.