The Peasant Question in the Reign of Nicholas II before 1905

Such then was the situation of the peasantry at the start of Nicholas II’s reign. The draft of the abovementioned law of December 14, 1893, which was enacted shortly before the death of Alexander III, was extensively criticized in the State Council, especially by the former finance minister, Bunge. The entire State Council expressed the view that a far-reaching, comprehensive review of all the legislation on the peasantry had to be undertaken. Spurred on by this, the minister of the interior at the time, I. N. Durnovo (not to be confused with Peter Durnovo, who was also minister of the