The first Russian terrorist, or what pushed the noble maiden Vera Zasulich on a bloody path, and why the jury acquitted her

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The trial of Zasulich went down in history because of an unprecedented precedent in those days: the attempted murder of a plenipotentiary representative of the government was justified, the criminal was released. And this despite the fact that they were sentenced to hard labor even for a peaceful demonstration of dissatisfaction with the regime! Obviously, the girl was born under a lucky star, which, however, did not bring her in the future either personal happiness or satisfaction with the events taking place in the country before the death of Vera Ivanovna.

Where was she born and in what conditions the rebellious character of Vera Zasulich was formed

The future Narodnaya Volka was born in 1849 in the family of an impoverished Polish nobleman Ivan Zasulich, who had a small estate in the village of Mikhailovka, Smolensk province. Three years later, the retired officer died, and Vera's mother, finding herself in distress with three young children in her arms, gave the girl to be raised by more wealthy relatives. As Vera Ivanovna herself later recalled, from her youth she dreamed of accomplishing feats, struggle and heroic deeds. She read the poems of Lermontov and Nekrasov, and the poem "Confession of Nalivaika" by K. F. Ryleev became her favorite work.

At the age of 15, the girl's home schooling ended, and with the goodwill of her relatives, she left for Moscow to continue her studies at a private boarding school. After graduating in 1867 with a teacher's diploma, Vera, in the absence of a suitable job, got a job as a scribe for the Serpukhov magistrate. A year later, leaving her previous occupation, she moved to St. Petersburg and began to work in a workshop engaged in bookbinding and binding activities.

In the capital, filled with progressive youth, the girl quickly found like-minded people, under whose influence she began to attend revolutionary circles, and then store and distribute forbidden literature. In 1869 Vera was arrested, and until 1871 she was first imprisoned in St. Petersburg, and then in exile in the Novgorod and Kostroma provinces, Tver.

Shot of the century, or for what reason Zasulich decided to execute the mayor of St. Petersburg Fyodor Trepov

The reason for the assassination attempt on the mayor was a case that occurred in the St. Petersburg house of preliminary detention on July 13, 1877. On this day, prisoner A. S. Bogolyubov, detained for participating in a youth demonstration in 1876, was flogged with rods by order of Lieutenant General Trepov for not taking off his hat in front of him when they met again in the prison yard. It was not possible to hush up the case, because: firstly, the prohibition on corporal punishment was legalized back in April 1863; secondly, after the shameful execution, which took place in front of the prisoners and lasted until the punished person lost consciousness, the student was damaged by the unbearable pain of his mind.

The incident received wide publicity in the press and caused a loud public outcry. However, in spite of everything, Trepov managed to avoid official punishment, and then Vera decided to restore justice. On February 5, 1878, when she went to the mayor's office, she, in front of visitors, shot him point-blank with a revolver. The general was lucky - despite severe wounds, he survived. Vera was immediately arrested, and after a short investigation she was brought before a jury.

Why lawyers fought for the right to defend Zasulich, and why the jury acquitted the terrorist

The trial of Zasulich was covered not only by domestic newspapers, but also by popular publications in many European countries. Becoming her lawyer at trial meant gaining fame and recognition whatever the outcome of the case. For this reason, Vera did not experience a shortage of defenders, but refused their services, since she wanted to defend her interests on her own.

The girl's opinion changed after reading the indictment, when she realized that without the help of a professional lawyer she risked going to hard labor for at least 15 years. Zasulich's choice fell on Pyotr Akimovich Aleksandrov, a former prosecutor of the court chamber, and now a sworn attorney, distinguished for his brilliant oratory and careful study of the case materials.

The authorities, worried about the lively reaction of the public, tried to exclude the political context from the case, so as not to disturb the already agitated public even more. Therefore, the prosecuting party mentioned only the facts of the crime, completely keeping silent about the personal motives that prompted Zasulich to shoot Trepov. The sincere confession of the girl who told the true circumstances of the act committed by her, the fiery reasoned speech of the lawyer, as well as the heartfelt parting words of the chairman of the court A. F. Koni considered the case not formally, but from the point of view of conscience - all this made an impression on the jury, who eventually unanimously rendered an acquittal on March 31, 1878.

How did the fate of the first Russian revolutionary-terrorist develop in the future?

Despite the successful outcome, the case did not end there: the next day the verdict was protested, and the police received an order to detain the released terrorist. True, it was not possible to take Zasulich into custody a second time - the friends hid Vera in a safe apartment in time, and a little later helped her to go abroad.

Vera Ivanovna spent the following years more calmly, although her interest in improving social society did not leave her all her life. So in emigration, she became acquainted with the teachings of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels and, imbued with communist ideals, recognized the futility of political struggle with terrorist methods.

Until 1899, Zasulich managed to visit Russia illegally only once. She spent this entire period first in Switzerland, a little later in France and England. Vera Ivanovna corresponded with K. Marx, visited Engels in London, knew G. V. Plekhanov well. From under her pen came out several well-known literary works at one time, including "Elements of Idealism in Socialism", "Voltaire", "Rousseau", "Essay on the History of the International Workers' Society". Returning to Russia, Zasulich continued to write topical political articles and support activists who stood up for the abolition of tsarism and the establishment of a liberal system in the country. After the February Revolution, she supported the Provisional Government and, joining the Menshevik Party in March 1917, urged to continue the war "to a victorious end."

Vera Zasulich died in 1919 of pneumonia, never accepting the October Socialist Revolution, which she called a counter-coup, which put an end to the country's democratic development and is, according to her reflections, a mirror image of the overthrown regime.

And the most successful Russian terrorist was destined to become another character.