Activity of a member of the Tambov Governorate Zemstvo Board A.D. Bryukhatov (1898–1904) in the context of the formation of civil society in Russia

Importance. The history of zemstvo autonomy in the all Russian plan has been studied extensively. The contribution to the history of prominent representatives of the zemstvo has been studied much less on local, in particular, Tambov material. The purpose of the study is to examine the views of the Zemstvo radical intelligentsia in the context of the formation of civil society in Russia using the example of Lev Dmitrievich Bryukhatov, a member of the Tambov Governorate Zemstvo Board.Research methods. Based on the theoretical analysis of the documentation of the Tambov Governorate Zemstvo, an objective assessment of the socio-political activities of a member of the board L.D. Bryukhatov is given.Results and Discussion. The struggle of Lev Dmitrievich for the unification of zemstvos on a national scale and the expansion of the rights of zemstvo institutions, their democratization is analyzed. His activity in defending freedom of speech and publicity, as well as the protection of zemstvo rights, is shown. Special attention is paid to the efforts of a member of the Tambov Governorate Zemstvo Board to increase the zemstvo representation in local institutions.Conclusion. In general, the example of L.D. Bryukhatov showed the evolution of the views of the zemstvo radical intelligentsia from calls for the protection and expansion of the rights of zemstvo institutions to the recognition of the right of the zemstvos to address issues of national importance.