Imperial Prosecutor’s Office in Volyn: Challenges and Compromises in Gubernia Governance (Late 18th – First Third of the 19th Century)
Abstract
The purpose of the research paper is to analyze the functioning of prosecutors and attorneys (striapchyi) from the late 18th century to the Polish November Uprising, to study their powers, to determine the personnel policy of appointments to this position, as well as the peculiarities of their activities in Volyn gubernia.
The scientific novelty. The importance of the prosecutor’s office for the incorporation of annexed territories is clarified, and the broader powers of officials, as well as differences in the number of officials compared to internal gubernias, are substantiated. It is proven that the personnel policy of the Russian Empire in Volyn during the studied period was characterized by a balance between the need to ensure the loyalty of officials and the need for effective governance of the region, taking into account its specifics.
Conclusions. The institution of the prosecutor’s office in the Russian Empire of the late 18th century underwent significant modernization. A dense network of prosecutorial supervision with broad powers was established to monitor the observance of legality in the administration and courts’ actions, to control the government institutions to prevent their interference in each other’s spheres of activity, and to guarantee compliance with laws and the behavior of officials. During the reign of Paul I and Alexander I, the prosecutor’s office system was reformed, and in the gubernias of Right-Bank Ukraine, the previous rules of judicial procedure were restored under the supervision of only the gubernia prosecutor.
During the reign of Nicholas I, the provincial prosecutor became a key instrument of integration policy. They were given the power to supervise the activities of noble deputy assemblies and were present during electoral proceedings. In an effort to ensure the loyalty of officials and their independence from local elites, prosecutors and attorneys were appointed from among natives of the internal gubernias, who were supported by the authorities against unjust denunciations. The retention of all povit attorneys in their positions after the November Uprising of 1830-1831 indicates the absolute loyalty of the prosecutor’s office to the government’s policy in the region.
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