Zubatov Sergey Vasilyevich (1864-1917): biography. Head of the Special Section of the Police Department of the Russian Empire

Zubatov Sergey Vasilievich (1864-1917) is the creator of the political investigation system in pre-revolutionary Russia. As an officer of the police department, he created legal workers' organizations, which received the name from his name. His work occupies an important place in the social history of our country at the beginning of the century. The measures taken by him somewhat softened the social heat on the eve of the revolution, but, unfortunately, they could not prevent its beginning.

Years of study

Zubatov Sergey Vasilievich was born in the family of an ober-officer. His father held a prominent position in the Moscow administration. The young man studied in gymnasiums, where he was carried away by revolutionary ideas and even created his own circle of nihilists. He actively engaged in self-education, taking a great interest in the works of the authors of the socialist sense. In addition, the young man propagated nihilistic ideas among students, for which he was expelled at the insistence of his father.

Relations with revolutionaries

Zubatov Sergey Vasilievich after the forced termination of studies became an employee of the Moscow office. However, much more important was his work in a private library, where there was a prohibited and withdrawn literature. Young revolutionaries were its frequent visitors, which led to their rapprochement. However, Zubatov did not share their ideas and convictions, since he considered himself a supporter of Pisarev's ideas, while his acquaintances shared the socio-political views of the Narodniks. Nevertheless, they maintained relations with each other. However, after a while he was arrested and charged with relations with the revolutionaries. Then Zubatov Sergey Vasilievich declared that he was in fact an adherent of the existing regime, and to prove his innocence he undertook to track down all who are somehow connected with underground circles.

Switch to secret service

From 1886 to 1887, under the guise of a revolutionary, he was busy tracing the Narodnaya Volya. Taking advantage of their trust and providing them with various services, Zubatov disclosed the activities of a number of major underground organizations. However, he was soon discovered and declared a provocateur. Members of one circle even decided to kill him. Then the official authorities suggested that he officially go to the police service, which happened in 1889. This activity, he said, caused him great difficulties, which may be explained by his former enthusiasm for revolutionary ideas.

Work in the security department

The 19th century, or rather, its second half, was the time of the flowering of the Narodnaya Volya movement, the formation of underground organizations that organized assassinations and prepared armed performances. In the conditions of an unprecedented growth in the popularity of socialist views, it became increasingly difficult to fight members of secret circles. However, Zubatov, working in the Moscow security department, managed to raise the work of this organization to a higher level. Perhaps the reason for his successful activity is that he preferred persuasion to punitive measures. With all the detained revolutionaries, he carried out ideological work, many luring to his side, while others forced them to doubt the truth of their chosen path. The 19th century was a century when young people sincerely believed that armed struggle could benefit Russia. However, Zubatov convinced them that the same goal can be achieved by working for the official authorities. So he managed to create a whole network of his own agents, which worked perfectly. With her help, many secret circles were discovered, attempts were prevented. It was dangerous to engage in clandestine activities in Moscow. After a while Zubatov in 1896 became the main guard department.

At the main post

The organization, which he directed, directly subordinated to the Special Department, which was part of the police department of the Russian Empire. The function of this unit was the task of combating revolutionary ideas in the country. It was engaged in studying the mood of young students, controlling workers, revealing political crimes. Zubatov established the activities of his department on the European model. He created a system of not only internal, but also foreign agents. His people worked not only in Moscow, but also throughout the country, tracing and neutralizing clandestine circles and organizations. The political investigation was raised to a new level. So, Zubatov created a special group of filers, which was actively engaged in tracking down the People's Will throughout the country. As a result, organizations were opened not only in Moscow, but also in the capital itself, in Minsk.

The idea of creating legal workers' organizations

At the end of the century, Moscow authorities collided with the movement of the proletariat. To solve this issue Zubatov got acquainted with the special literature and realized that the problem can be solved if we take control of workers' organizations. In 1898, he presented the plan of his project to Chief Police Officer Trepov and was given permission to conduct ideological work among all those who were dissatisfied with hard working conditions. The essence of Zubatov's actions was as follows: the need to convince the workers that they can fulfill their demands from the tsarist government, and that in order to improve their lives, it is not necessary to carry out a social revolution as required by the theory of Marxists. Zubatov acted so skilfully that he managed to entice and convince a large part of the proletariat of his rightness, and this enabled him to begin organizing official labor unions under the control of the authorities.

Work in St. Petersburg

In 1902, a new stage in his political career came: he was transferred to Petersburg and appointed head of the Special Section. Zubatov was appointed to this post at the suggestion of the Minister of the Interior, Plehve, who did not share his views on the need for serious and ambitious reforms to prevent the revolution, but felt it necessary to entrust him to this important post. In his new work Zubatov continued reforming the system of political investigation. He created special security offices throughout the country, led by dedicated people who are well acquainted with his methods of conducting search operations.

Resignation

When Zubatov was promoted, he received the honorary title of "court counselor". However, just a year later, unexpected and extremely unpleasant changes occurred in his life. The fact is that he and Plehve could not find a common language because of the growing disagreement between them. Zubatov continued to insist on the need for reform, and the interior minister sought to strengthen repression. On this ground of confrontation, Sergei Vasilevich got along with Witte, with whom he even plotted to shift Plehve. However, the plan was uncovered, and Zubatov was immediately removed from the high office. He left for Moscow, and from there he went to Vladimir. He was followed by observation, he was also forbidden to come into contact with his former co-workers. The retired court counselor, however, was rehabilitated after the murder of Plehve. The new Minister of the Interior Svyatopolk-Mirsky wanted to return him to the service, but he refused.

last years of life

After his acquittal, he returned to Moscow and started his journalistic activities. He was published in monarchical journals, but subsequently entered into correspondence with Burtsev, who was considered not very reliable. He was forbidden to maintain relations with him. For the next few years, Zubatov was not involved in politics and only watched the events taking place. When he learned about the abdication of the emperor in 1917, he shot himself.

Activity value

In the history of our country, this person entered, first of all, as the organizer and creator of professional workers' organizations, whose goal was to defend their interests in a lawful and peaceful way. The first batch was formed in 1901. In historical literature, this phenomenon came under the name of Zubatov and "Zubatov", and among the contemporaries, this designation was often perceived in a mocking sense. However, Sergei Vasilievich understood the importance of the working class and believed that the spread among him of socialist ideas could lead to dangerous consequences. Therefore, he wanted to put the workers' movement under the control of the authorities and the police. In part, he succeeded in this, but later, largely because of the confrontation with Plehve, he was forced to cease his activities. His actions and organizations were often called police socialism, although Zubatov himself strongly denied this formulation. He noted that, on the contrary, he was fighting against socialist ideas and that his propaganda was based on the need to develop socialism and private property. He also pointed out that the police component did not play a decisive role in his activities. According to him, he needed such cover for the most effective interaction with the authorities. Nevertheless, Zubatova often criticized both the right and the left, despite all his explanations.