Political Red Cross
Encyclopedia
Political Red Cross was the name borne by several organizations that provided aid to political prisoners in the Russian Empire
and later in Soviet Russia
and the Soviet Union
.
The first organization using this name was founded in St. Petersburg in 1870 by L. I. Kornilova, Serdyukov, L. V. Sinegubov, and Vera Figner
, and aided arrested populists
.
In 1881 the Red Cross Society of the People's Will was founded by Yuri Bogdanovich
of the People's Will
movement.
In the late 1890's the Society for Political Exiles and Prisoners was active in St. Petersburg. The society received funding for its activities from charity concerts, literary readings, fundraising events, and voluntary donations from the intelligentsia.
After the defeat of the 1905 Russian Revolution, assistance to prisoners was offered through a political prisoner's bureau of the St. Petersburg organization of the Political Red Cross, chaired by T. A. Bogdanovich with E. Benoit as treasurer. The Prisoner's Commission was manned by prisoners, deportees, and their families, who also organized escapes.
One of the most active organization in the 1910's was a group assisting political prisoners held in the Shlisselburg
fortress, directed by M. L. Lihtenshtadt, A. A. Aristov, A. Y. Brushteyn, E. V. Pozner, and others.
After the February Revolution
, the Political Red Cross aided in the release and repatriation of prisoners and political exiles and created the Society for Released Politicals.
In 1918 the Moscow Committee of the Political Red Cross was created by Nikolai Muravyov, Catherine Peshkov, and M. L. Vinaver. This organization was legitimized by I. Steinberg, People's Commissar of Justice of the Russian Soviet Republic
. After 1922 the organization was named Political Prisoner's Relief (with shortened versions of this name in common use - "PomPolit" and "PolitPomosch"). This organization aided relatives of those arrested by making inquiries about where the prisoners were held, providing them with material assistance, and petitioning the authorities for their release. The organization was located on Kuznetsky Most
Street near the OGPU headquarters. It existed until 1938.
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
and later in Soviet Russia
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , commonly referred to as Soviet Russia, Bolshevik Russia, or simply Russia, was the largest, most populous and economically developed republic in the former Soviet Union....
and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
The first organization using this name was founded in St. Petersburg in 1870 by L. I. Kornilova, Serdyukov, L. V. Sinegubov, and Vera Figner
Vera Figner
Vera Nikolayevna Figner was a Russian revolutionary and narodnik born in Kazan, Russia.-Biography:...
, and aided arrested populists
Narodnik
Narodniks was the name for Russian socially conscious members of the middle class in the 1860s and 1870s. Their ideas and actions were known as Narodnichestvo which can be translated as "Peopleism", though is more commonly rendered "populism"...
.
In 1881 the Red Cross Society of the People's Will was founded by Yuri Bogdanovich
Yuri Bogdanovich
Yuri Nikolayevich Bogdanovich was a Russian revolutionary and Narodnik. His cadre name was Kobozev -Revolutionary beginnings:...
of the People's Will
People's Will
Will of the People is a political party that aimed for representation in the Parliament of Sweden, but only got 881 votes nation-wide in the Swedish general election, 2006, of a national turnout of 5,650,416...
movement.
In the late 1890's the Society for Political Exiles and Prisoners was active in St. Petersburg. The society received funding for its activities from charity concerts, literary readings, fundraising events, and voluntary donations from the intelligentsia.
After the defeat of the 1905 Russian Revolution, assistance to prisoners was offered through a political prisoner's bureau of the St. Petersburg organization of the Political Red Cross, chaired by T. A. Bogdanovich with E. Benoit as treasurer. The Prisoner's Commission was manned by prisoners, deportees, and their families, who also organized escapes.
One of the most active organization in the 1910's was a group assisting political prisoners held in the Shlisselburg
Shlisselburg
Shlisselburg is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated at the head of the Neva River on Lake Ladoga, east of St. Petersburg. From 1944 to 1992, it was known as Petrokrepost...
fortress, directed by M. L. Lihtenshtadt, A. A. Aristov, A. Y. Brushteyn, E. V. Pozner, and others.
After the February Revolution
February Revolution
The February Revolution of 1917 was the first of two revolutions in Russia in 1917. Centered around the then capital Petrograd in March . Its immediate result was the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, the end of the Romanov dynasty, and the end of the Russian Empire...
, the Political Red Cross aided in the release and repatriation of prisoners and political exiles and created the Society for Released Politicals.
In 1918 the Moscow Committee of the Political Red Cross was created by Nikolai Muravyov, Catherine Peshkov, and M. L. Vinaver. This organization was legitimized by I. Steinberg, People's Commissar of Justice of the Russian Soviet Republic
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , commonly referred to as Soviet Russia, Bolshevik Russia, or simply Russia, was the largest, most populous and economically developed republic in the former Soviet Union....
. After 1922 the organization was named Political Prisoner's Relief (with shortened versions of this name in common use - "PomPolit" and "PolitPomosch"). This organization aided relatives of those arrested by making inquiries about where the prisoners were held, providing them with material assistance, and petitioning the authorities for their release. The organization was located on Kuznetsky Most
Kuznetsky Most
Kuznetsky Most is a street in central Moscow, that runs from Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street to Lubyanka Street. The name, literally Blacksmith's Bridge, refers to the 18th century bridge over Neglinnaya River, now running in an underground tunnel, and a nearby foundry and the settlement of its workers...
Street near the OGPU headquarters. It existed until 1938.