Latest from #1917LIVE: Tsar’s family arrested, rise of Soviets, Trotsky on his way to Russia
The winds of change are blowing through the Russian Empire after the February Revolution toppled the old order – the former Tsar is now under arrest. Stay up to date with the latest news from the 1917 Russia.
Once the Autocrat of All Russia, now just Colonel Romanov, the former Tsar, Nicholas II, finally returned to his imperial residence of Tsarskoye Selo, where he and his family were placed under house arrest on March 22.
BREAKING: General @GenKornilov1917 has placed the royal family under arrest at Tsarskoe Selo #1917LIVEhttps://t.co/EI5zLktfYF
— Russian Telegraph (@RT_1917) March 21, 2017
The Provisional Government originally planned to let the Romanovs flee to the UK, but the Petrograd Soviet – a far more radical revolutionary force – insisted that they be placed under arrest.
#WWI only brought destruction to our nation. Far are those days when russians loved their Tsar! Now we're prisoners in our home! #1917CROWDpic.twitter.com/3fbHuUbJNr
— Aleksei Romanov (@AlekseiNR_1917) March 23, 2017
Romanovs are deprived of everything: no funds, no phone, no privacy. Just guards who get drunk and abuse #1917LIVE#1917CROWDpic.twitter.com/pLJEzc02Fq
— Princess Olga Paley (@OlgaPaley_1917) March 30, 2017
The power in the country is de facto being shared between the Provisional Government and the increasingly powerful Petrograd Soviet of Workers and Soldiers Deputies. The Soviet controls the troops, railways, post and telegraphs.
.@PetroSoviet1917 has more power than we have... They control troops, railways & comms. We have to ask them for favors! #1917LIVE#failpic.twitter.com/05MxQLEebj
— Alexander Guchkov (@Guchkov_1917) March 22, 2017
As an alternative source of power, it attacks the rival Provisional Government as bourgeois and contradicts it.
Central Committee adopts resolution on military action; Key points: 1) Immediately initiate talks w/ workers of enemy states #1917LIVE (1/2) pic.twitter.com/bTHNzUQlsZ
— Petrograd Soviet (@PetroSoviet1917) March 23, 2017
Meanwhile the Provisional Government is receiving recognition from major world powers.
BREAKING: US formally recognizes the Provisional Government @ProvGovt_1917#1917LIVEpic.twitter.com/ET4MPuQJV7
— Russian Telegraph (@RT_1917) March 22, 2017
And the Russian people are still in a state of euphoria over their newly-obtained freedom. The new authorities proclaim freedom of speech and ban censorship.
Freedom of speech! Tsarist committee for media censorship disbanded. New commissioner for media being introduced #1917LIVEpic.twitter.com/RFGFEzY7Ab
— Provisional Govt (@ProvGovt_1917) March 22, 2017
Ppl speak non-stop in streets, squares, alleys. Very touchy.Remember! Russians haven't had the right to speak freely for centuries #1917LIVEpic.twitter.com/I6azL4dLSA
— Maurice Paléologue (@Paleologue_1917) March 21, 2017
In another progressive move, the Provisional Government abolishes capital punishment.
BREAKING: @ProvGovt_1917 has abolished capital punishment for all criminal offences #1917LIVEpic.twitter.com/icKFtKpmki
— Russian Telegraph (@RT_1917) March 25, 2017
On April 1, some 40,000 women march in downtown Petrograd (St. Petersburg) to demand voter equality. Russia will soon become one the first countries in Europe to give women the right to vote.
WATCH: Massive Women's March held in #Petrograd, tens of thousands of protesters demand #VoterEquality#1917LIVEpic.twitter.com/qGaH6hBiJm
— Russian Telegraph (@RT_1917) April 1, 2017
READ MORE: Russian women’s march that made history (VIDEO, PHOTOS)
The spirit of the revolution can be felt all over the vast empire.
HAPPENING NOW: Thousands rally on #Kiev’s Khreshchatyk Street to celebrate the #revolution in #Ukraine#1917LIVEpic.twitter.com/dgGlIJftMN
— Russian Telegraph (@RT_1917) March 29, 2017
On March 29, the Provisional Government recognizes the independence of Poland, which was part of the Russian Empire for more than a century.
Poles! The Russian people recognize the full right of the fraternal Polish people to decide their fate also by their own will #1917LIVE 3/3
— Provisional Govt (@ProvGovt_1917) March 30, 2017
Meanwhile, Marxist theorist Leon Trotsky departs the US to return to Russia to ride the wave of the revolution.
Our steamer is anchored in Bedford Basin, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We’ll have to stay here for several days for formalities #1917LIVE
— Leon Trotsky (@LeoTrotsky_1917) March 29, 2017
Our steamer is going to stay in Halifax for several days more, but I hope there’ll be no more rough stuff from local authorities #1917LIVEpic.twitter.com/M5LYtx1hCN
— Leon Trotsky (@LeoTrotsky_1917) March 31, 2017
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