CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> <html lang="en"> <head>  <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-KGJZMMX');</script>  <script type="text/javascript"> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-29277122-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <META content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"> <META http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <META http-equiv="Content-Script-Type" content="text/javascript"> <meta name="norton-safeweb-site-verification" content="jazg3njqarvwzb6hugexme0l9n56sj3bz6oz2jbv9whid98y65iude81ix7gopuf3i6gdfaikvo35e58tlb6-oumux22ocwohj3owmvvszf3kx8d-oordn0c6w3x41wj"> <META NAME="ROBOTS" CONTENT="INDEX, FOLLOW"> <META name="keywords" content="Zemstvo, Земство, reference work, Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine, Інтернетова Енциклопедія України (ІЕУ), Ukraine, Ukraina, Україна"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="57x57" href="/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png?v=Km2wkp7okQ"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="60x60" href="/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png?v=Km2wkp7okQ"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="72x72" href="/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png?v=Km2wkp7okQ"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="76x76" href="/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png?v=Km2wkp7okQ"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="114x114" href="/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png?v=Km2wkp7okQ"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="120x120" href="/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png?v=Km2wkp7okQ"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="144x144" href="/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png?v=Km2wkp7okQ"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png?v=Km2wkp7okQ"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png?v=Km2wkp7okQ"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/favicon-32x32.png?v=Km2wkp7okQ"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/favicon-16x16.png?v=Km2wkp7okQ"> <link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json?v=Km2wkp7okQ"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="/safari-pinned-tab.svg?v=Km2wkp7okQ" color="#5bbad5"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico?v=Km2wkp7okQ"> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#ffc40d"> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="/mstile-144x144.png?v=Km2wkp7okQ"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="css/allMD.css" type="text/css" media="screen, projection">  <title>Zemstvo</title> </head> <body>  <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-KGJZMMX" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <div id="main" class="main marginZero" role="main"> <div class="hp bg8 tc " > <div > <div class="clear"></div> <div class=" bannerBack marginZero" > <div id="MobileOneLineMenu1" class="Link_Buttons"> <a href="#" type="button" onclick="document.getElementById('MobileOneLineMenu1').style.cssText = ' font-size: 0; height: 0;'; document.getElementById('MobileOneLineMenu2').style.cssText = ' font-size: 1.8em; height: 2.6em;';showMe()">Menu</a> </div> <div id="MobileOneLineMenu2" class="Link_Buttons"> <a href="#" type="button" onclick="document.getElementById('MobileOneLineMenu2').style.cssText = 'font-size: 0; height: 0;'; document.getElementById('MobileOneLineMenu1').style.cssText = ' font-size: 1.8em; height: 2.6em; margin-right: .74em;';notDisplay()">Menu</a> </div> <div class="lower "> <a href="#main"> <img src="images/DBHFill.gif" width="1" height="1" alt="Skip Navigation"></a> <div id="MobileFullMenu" class="mattblacktabs marginZero"> <ul> <li><a href="default.asp" class="buttonHeight buttonWidth marginZero" title=" Go to Home Page ">Home</a></li> <li><a href="info.asp" class="buttonHeight buttonWidth marginZero" title=" View information about IEU ">About IEU</a></li> <li><a href="help.asp" class=" buttonHeight buttonWidth marginZero" title=" View user's instructions, tips and editorial information ">User Info</a></li> <li><a href="contact.asp" class=" buttonHeight buttonWidth marginZero" title=" Contact IEU staff ">Contact Address</a></li> <li><a href="donor.asp" class=" buttonHeight buttonWidth marginZero" title="Donate to Encyclopedia">Donate to IEU</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="largeMenu" class="mattblacktabs marginZero"> <ul role="navigaton"> <li ><a href="default.asp" title=" Go to Home Page " >Home</a></li> <li><a href="info.asp" title=" View information about IEU ">About IEU</a></li> <li><a href="help.asp" title=" View user's instructions, tips and editorial information ">User Info</a></li> <li><a href="main-index.asp" title=" Use IEU Index to search for entry titles ">Index Search</a></li> <li><a href="contact.asp" title=" Contact IEU staff ">Contact Address</a></li> <li><a href="donor.asp" title="Donate to Encyclopedia">Donate to IEU</a></li> </ul> </div> <form name="FormMain" id="Blockkk" method="post" action="alphasearch.asp" class="SearchFloat SearchPosition"> <input id="submit1" type="submit" class="inputButton buttonHeightSub" title=" Search Titles in Encyclopedia " value=" Title " onClick="document.FormMain.action='alphasearch.asp' + '?q=' + document.getElementById('email').value;"> <input id="submit2" type="submit" class="inputButton buttonHeightSub" title=" Full Text Search " value="Text " onClick="document.FormMain.action='query.asp' +'?q=' + document.getElementById('email').value; method='post'" > <input id="submit3" type="submit" class="inputButton buttonHeightSub" title=" Use advanced search functions to search IEU database " value="ADV " onClick="document.FormMain.action='advanced.asp' + '?q=' + document.getElementById('email').value;" > <div id="SearchFieldMobile" class="mattblacktabs" > <label for="email" class="visuallyhidden">Search: </label> <input id="email" type="text" name="Textalpha" value="Search" onfocus="this.value=''"> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="bg9 tc float90 marginZero" > <div class="clear"></div> <BR> <H1>Zemstvo</H1>   <div> <div class="marginZero"> <ul class="fl NoListStyle"> <li class="NoListStyle"> <form name="MyFormPrevious" method="post" Action="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/previous.asp?bottomMenuDisplay=pages%5CZ%5CE%5CZemstvo.htm&KidNumer=19326"> <input type="hidden" name="Previous entry" value="pages\Z\E\Zemstvo.htm"> <a href="javascript:document.MyFormPrevious.submit()" TITLE="Previous Entry" class="inlineBlockDisplay"><Strong><<<</Strong></a> </form> </li> </ul> <ul class=" fr NoListStyle" role="navigaton"> <li > <form name="MyFormNext" method="post" Action="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/next.asp?bottomMenuDisplay=pages%5CZ%5CE%5CZemstvo.htm&KidNumer=19326"> <input type="hidden" name="Next entry" value="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/pages\Z\E\Zemstvo.htm"> <a href="javascript:document.MyFormNext.submit()" TITLE="Next Entry" class="inlineBlockDisplay"><Strong>>>></Strong></a> </form> </li> </ul> <ul class="NoListStyle" role="navigaton"> <li class="NoListStyle" > <A href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/pages%5CZ%5CE%5CZemstvo.htm" title="View black-on-white text, print, copy-and-paste" class="NoListStyle" rel="nofollow">print</A> </li> </ul> <div class="clear"></div> </div>   <div class="clear"></div> <div id="picturesColumnRight">  <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/picturedisplay.asp?linkpath=pic%5CK%5CH%5CKherson%20zemstvo.jpg&page=pages%5CZ%5CE%5CZemstvo.htm&id=19326&pid=9364&tyt=Zemstvo&key=Zemstvo%2C+%D0%97%D0%B5%D0%BC%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE"><img class="thumbnail" src="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/pic%5CK%5CH%5CKherson%20zemstvo.jpg" title="Members of the Kherson zemstvo." alt="Image - Members of the Kherson zemstvo."></a> <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/picturedisplay.asp?linkpath=pic%5CA%5CL%5CAllRussian%20Zemstvo%20Union%20poster.jpg&page=pages%5CZ%5CE%5CZemstvo.htm&id=19326&pid=9348&tyt=Zemstvo&key=Zemstvo%2C+%D0%97%D0%B5%D0%BC%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE"><img class="thumbnail" src="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/pic%5CA%5CL%5CAllRussian%20Zemstvo%20Union%20poster.jpg" title="A poster of the All-Russian Zemstvo Union." alt="Image - A poster of the All-Russian Zemstvo Union."></a>  </div> <div class="bg9 tc marginZero">  <div class="fl"> <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/picturedisplay.asp?linkpath=pic%5CZ%5CE%5CZemstvo%20convention%201905.jpg&page=pages%5CZ%5CE%5CZemstvo.htm&id=19326&pid=9363&tyt=Zemstvo&key=Zemstvo%2C+%D0%97%D0%B5%D0%BC%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE"><img class="thumbnailWW" src="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/pic%5CZ%5CE%5CZemstvo%20convention%201905.jpg" title="Congress of zemstvos (1905)." alt="Image - Congress of zemstvos (1905)."> </a>  </div> <A name="TopPosition"> </A> <a name="main"></a> <P class="padingHistoryLand"><STRONG>Zemstvo</STRONG> [Земство]. A gubernia and <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CO%5CCounty.htm">county</a> institution for municipal self-government that existed in most European <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CG%5CU%5CGubernias.htm">gubernias</a> of the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CR%5CU%5CRussianEmpire.htm">Russian Empire</a> from 1865 until the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CB%5CO%5CBolshevik.htm">Bolshevik</a> <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CR%5CE%5CRevolutionof1917.htm">Revolution of 1917</a>. Under pressure from liberal <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CN%5CO%5CNobles.htm">nobles</a> and the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CI%5CN%5CIntelligentsia.htm">intelligentsia</a>, Tsar <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CA%5CL%5CAlexanderII.htm">Alexander II</a> confirmed the Zemstvo Statute on 1 January 1864. Electoral institutions, specifically gubernia and county zemstvo assemblies (decision-making bodies) and zemstvo boards (executive bodies) were introduced in 1865. The jurisdiction of the zemstvos included municipal, economic, social, and educational affairs. They were to manage property, build and maintain roads, undertake measures for the improvement of agriculture, trade, and <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CI%5CN%5CIndustry.htm">industry</a>, and oversee <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CM%5CE%5CMedical.htm">medical</a> services, sanitation, <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CU%5CPubliceducation.htm">public education</a>, veterinary medicine services, insurance, fire prevention, and other activities. The <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CW%5CO%5CWork.htm">work</a> was financed by special taxes on agricultural land, commercial and industrial properties, and business and <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CG%5CU%5CGuild.htm">guild</a> licenses, as well as direct government subsidies (the latter initially constituted only a small portion of revenues, but increased substantially after 1905). Provincial zemstvo organizations were established in 1865 in <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CH%5CChernihivgubernia.htm">Chernihiv gubernia</a>, <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CK%5CH%5CKharkivgubernia.htm">Kharkiv gubernia</a>, <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CK%5CH%5CKhersongubernia.htm">Kherson gubernia</a>, and <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CO%5CPoltavagubernia.htm">Poltava gubernia</a> and in 1866 in <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CK%5CA%5CKaterynoslavgubernia.htm">Katerynoslav gubernia</a> and <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CT%5CA%5CTavriiagubernia.htm">Tavriia gubernia</a>. They were not introduced in <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CR%5CI%5CRight6BankUkraine.htm">Right-Bank Ukraine</a> (<a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CK%5CY%5CKyivgubernia.htm">Kyiv gubernia</a>, <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CV%5CO%5CVolhyniagubernia.htm">Volhynia gubernia</a>, and <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CO%5CPodiliagubernia.htm">Podilia gubernia</a>) until 1911 because of official concerns about extending local institutions of self-government into areas where a large portion of the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CN%5CO%5CNobility.htm">nobility</a> was Polish (particularly after the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CO%5CPolishInsurrectionof1863hD74.htm">Polish Insurrection of 1863–4</a>). </P> <P class="padingHistoryLand">The zemstvo consisted of a mix of appointed and elected delegates. Separate electoral bodies existed for three <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CL%5CClasses.htm">classes</a> of delegates, <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CL%5CA%5CLandowners.htm">landowners</a>, <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CM%5CE%5CMerchants.htm">merchants</a> and industrialists, and <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CE%5CPeasants.htm">peasants</a>. Those provisions were modified in 1890 in a revised Zemstvo Statute, which limited landowner representation to the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CN%5CO%5CNobility.htm">nobility</a> and turned over the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CS%5CE%5CSelection.htm">selection</a> of peasant representatives to the provincial governor. Orthodox <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CL%5CClergy.htm">clergy</a> and <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CJ%5CE%5CJews.htm">Jews</a> were also forbidden to hold zemstvo offices at that time. All zemstvo positions had a three-year term, and the zemstvo assemblies usually sat once a year. In spite of provisions for representation from various <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CE%5CS%5CEstates.htm">estates</a>, the zemstvo structure was dominated by the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CG%5CE%5CGentry.htm">gentry</a> both in absolute numbers and in leadership positions. As a rule the delegates from the nobility had more than half the votes in <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CO%5CCounty.htm">county</a> zemstvo assemblies. They tended to have an even greater representation on the county executive boards and in the gubernia zemstvo organizations. In 1903 the county zemstvo councils in Ukrainian <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CG%5CU%5CGubernias.htm">gubernias</a> consisted of 83 percent nobility, 9.3 percent <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CE%5CPeasantry.htm">peasantry</a>, and 7.7 percent others. In <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CK%5CH%5CKhersongubernia.htm">Kherson gubernia</a> the county councils consisted entirely of nobility. After 1890 the appointed heads of zemstvo administrations were ratified by the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CG%5CO%5CGovernor.htm">governor</a> (for county administrations) and by the minister of the interior (for gubernia administrations). The various zemstvo institutions were placed under the control and supervision of the state administration: all decisions of the zemstvo had to be ratified by the governor or the minister of the interior, who also had the power to nullify them; and elected zemstvo clerks were included in the general state administrative system.</P> <P class="padingHistoryLand">Notwithstanding those limitations the zemstvos carried out a great deal of <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CW%5CO%5CWork.htm">work</a> in numerous areas of municipal management. They contributed significantly to the development of agriculture in Ukraine by creating a network of <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CO%5CCounty.htm">county</a> and <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CG%5CU%5CGubernia.htm">gubernia</a> agronomists, introducing much-needed agricultural innovations (notably in machinery and equipment, seed, and fertilizer), launching a popular-education movement among the rural population (exhibitions, courses, lessons, popular brochures), establishing a series of <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CA%5CG%5CAgriculturalschools.htm">agricultural schools</a>, initiating agronomic projects (research stations, <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CS%5CO%5CSoil.htm">soil</a> research, and the like), setting up insurance schemes, organizing a veterinary service, promoting the development of livestock breeding, supporting the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CO%5CCo6operativemovement.htm">co-operative movement</a>, and assisting in the establishment of co-operative credit institutions serving the needs of the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CE%5CPeasantry.htm">peasantry</a>, <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CV%5CI%5CVillage.htm">village</a> tradesmen, and others (see Agriculture, <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CA%5CG%5CAgronomy.htm">Agronomy</a>, and <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CA%5CG%5CAgronomystateandsocial.htm">Agronomy, state and social</a>). Zemstvo institutions built roads and organized the so-called zemstvo post (in areas not reached by state postal service). Their work in <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CU%5CPubliceducation.htm">public education</a> was widespread; it started with the establishment of a network of <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CE%5CL%5CElementaryschools.htm">elementary schools</a>, which was followed later by <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CS%5CE%5CSecondaryschools.htm">secondary schools</a> and <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CV%5CO%5CVocationalschools.htm">vocational schools</a> (see <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CZ%5CE%5CZemstvoschools.htm">Zemstvo schools</a>). Zemstvos commonly supported popular <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CE%5CD%5CEducation.htm">education</a> (<a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CS%5CU%5CSundayschools.htm">Sunday schools</a>, rural and village libraries, vocational courses, <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CU%5CPublicreadings.htm">public readings</a>, and the like). They are credited with the introduction of public health programs (see <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CZ%5CE%5CZemstvomedicine.htm">Zemstvo medicine</a>) in the countryside.</P> <P class="padingHistoryLand">The <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CW%5CO%5CWork.htm">work</a> of the zemstvos in gathering statistical data and economic information about various <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CR%5CE%5CRegionsofUkraine.htm">regions of Ukraine</a> resulted in the preparation of over 100 studies. In their day those had practical applications and, in some cases, political implications. Today they constitute a valuable source of historical information (see Statistics).</P> <P class="padingHistoryLand">In spite of their political domination by the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CN%5CO%5CNobility.htm">nobility</a> and attempts by the state to confine or control their activities, zemstvos developed into a liberal institution. They often attracted liberal <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CN%5CO%5CNobles.htm">nobles</a> and the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CI%5CN%5CIntelligentsia.htm">intelligentsia</a> into their structure. They employed a large number of professional people (frequently referred to as ‘the third element’) and represented the most viable source of employment for educated persons outside official state service in the bureaucracy or military. Because they were mandated to provide services at a local, <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CO%5CCounty.htm">county</a>, or <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CG%5CU%5CGubernia.htm">gubernia</a> level, the zemstvos commonly developed a greater loyalty to their region and its inhabitants than to the imperial bureaucracy, which functioned as the arm of a highly centralized government. The zemstvos' implicit political potential was already becoming obvious in the 1870s, when they frequently petitioned the tsar to establish a <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CO%5CConstitution.htm">constitution</a> for the empire. In the period of reaction following the assassination of <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CA%5CL%5CAlexanderII.htm">Alexander II</a> in 1881, the functions of local institutions, including the zemstvo, were reviewed. The review ultimately gave birth to the revised Zemstvo Statute of 1890, which increased state control over zemstvo activities. The zemstvo, nevertheless, maintained its liberal character and continued to engage or employ people regarded as politically suspect. The implicit political functions of the zemstvos were assumed by the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CA%5CPartiespolitical.htm">political parties</a> that emerged in the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CR%5CU%5CRussianEmpire.htm">Russian Empire</a> after the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CR%5CE%5CRevolutionof1905.htm">Revolution of 1905</a>.</P> <P class="padingHistoryLand">As an institution of local self-government the zemstvo often reflected the characteristics of its own region. In that respect the zemstvos of Ukraine could claim certain distinctive features, and some (notably those in <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CH%5CChernihiv.htm">Chernihiv</a> and Poltava) could be called <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainophile.htm">Ukrainophile</a> in their orientation. The <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CO%5CPoltava.htm">Poltava</a> zemstvo initiated the building of a monument to <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CK%5CO%5CKotliarevskyIvan.htm">Ivan Kotliarevsky</a> in <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CO%5CPoltava.htm">Poltava</a> in 1903. The Poltava Zemstvo building (1905) was deliberately designed in a Ukrainian style by <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CK%5CR%5CKrychevskyVasylH.htm">Vasyl H. Krychevsky</a>. Among the zemstvo employees in Ukraine were Ukrainian intellectuals, many of whom were ill disposed to the tsarist regime. For a good number of them the zemstvo institution served as a school for future involvement in the 1917–20 Ukrainian state. Among the eminent Ukrainian zemstvo activists in the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CO%5CPoltavaregion.htm">Poltava region</a> were <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CH%5CChyzhevskyPavlo.htm">Pavlo Chyzhevsky</a>, <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CL%5CY%5CLyzohubFedir.htm">Fedir Lyzohub</a>, <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CM%5CA%5CMartosBorys.htm">Borys Martos</a>, Oleksander Obolonsky, Ivan Prysetsky, and <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CS%5CH%5CShemetVolodymyr.htm">Volodymyr Shemet</a>. Notables in the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CH%5CChernihivregion.htm">Chernihiv region</a> included <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CD%5CO%5CDoroshenkoPetroYa.htm">Petro Ya. Doroshenko</a>, I. <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CE%5CPetrunkevych.htm">Petrunkevych</a>, <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CR%5CU%5CRusovOleksander.htm">Oleksander Rusov</a>, <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CS%5CA%5CSavytskyMykola.htm">Mykola Savytsky</a>, <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CS%5CH%5CShrahIllia.htm">Illia Shrah</a>, Oleksander Tyshchynsky, and Fedir Umanets. </P> <P class="padingHistoryLand">The zemstvos functioned largely independently of one another. The Zemstvo Alliance was formed by zemstvo employees after a congress in <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CM%5CO%5CMoscow.htm">Moscow</a> in 1879, but the zemstvo institutions were not united until 1914. Even then the All-Russian <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CN%5CUnionofZemstvos.htm">Union of Zemstvos</a> was created to co-ordinate <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CM%5CE%5CMedical.htm">medical</a> aid for the empire's war effort rather than to expedite common zemstvo policy.</P> <P class="padingHistoryLand">After the outbreak of the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CR%5CE%5CRevolutionof1917.htm">Revolution of 1917</a> the zemstvos became full-fledged institutions of municipal self-government. According to resolutions passed by the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CR%5CProvisionalGovernment.htm">Provisional Government</a> (21 May and 9 June 1917), district zemstvo institutions were established, and any citizen could be elected to them. Zemstvo institutions also gained the right to pass binding <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CL%5CE%5CLegislation.htm">legislation</a>, and the supervision of the state administration was limited to a review of the legality of their activities. Public safety (the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CM%5CI%5CMilitia.htm">militia</a>) came under their jurisdiction. In Ukraine the zemstvos started a process of Ukrainianization and filled their ranks with Ukrainian political activists. The <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CK%5CY%5CKyiv.htm">Kyiv</a> newspaper <I>Zems’ka hazeta</I> began to publish in Ukrainian.</P> <P class="padingHistoryLand">The <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CA%5CL%5CAll6UkrainianUnionofZemstvos.htm">All-Ukrainian Union of Zemstvos</a>, founded in April 1918, linked <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CG%5CU%5CGubernia.htm">gubernia</a> zemstvo administrations under <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CE%5CPetliuraSymon.htm">Symon Petliura</a>. The zemstvo institutions later were opposed to the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CH%5CE%5CHetmangovernment.htm">Hetman government</a>, which had begun to assert greater administrative control over them. On 5 September 1918 the Zemstvo Statute was altered, and a curial electoral system was reintroduced. The electoral reform was only partly implemented before the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainian6SovietWar1917hD721.htm">Ukrainian-Soviet War, 1917–21</a> caused the zemstvos to curtail their activities. The government of the <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianNationalRepublic.htm">Ukrainian National Republic</a> then dissolved the zemstvo assemblies until their re-election and transferred their competency to the appropriate state administrations. The <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CL%5CE%5CLegislation.htm">legislation</a> was stillborn, however, as <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CB%5CO%5CBolshevik.htm">Bolshevik</a> troops established effective control over Ukraine shortly thereafter. The zemstvos were then dissolved, and their functions were assumed by local <a href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CS%5CO%5CSoviet.htm">Soviet</a> councils. </P> <P class="padingHistoryLand">BIBLIOGRAPHY<BR>Dragomanov, M. <I>Liberalizm i zemstvo v Rossii</I> (Geneva 1889)<BR>Doroshenko, V. <I>Z istoriï zemstva na Ukraïni</I> (Lviv 1910)<BR>Shcherbina, F. <I>Istoriia poltavskogo zemstva</I> (Poltava 1915)<BR>Veselovskii, B. <I>Istoriia zemstva za 40 let</I>, 4 vols (Saint Petersburg 1909–11; repr, Cambridge 1973)</P> <P class="padingHistoryLand" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">Vasyl Markus</P> <P class="padingHistoryLand" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">[This article originally appeared in the <I>Encyclopedia of Ukraine</I>, vol. 5 (1993).]</P> <BR> <CENTER> <P class="padingHistoryLand"></P> </CENTER> </div> <div class="clear"></div>  <div class="bg9 marginbottom tc">    <div class="dr20 tc marginZero TotalWidth"> <A name="linksaddress"> </A> <BR> <HR class="marginZero"> <H2 class="tc mb b rozmiar50">List of related links from Encyclopedia of Ukraine pointing to <span class="FontDarkBlue b "> Zemstvo</span> entry: <BR> </H2> <Div> <label for="groovybtn1" class="visuallyhidden">1 Agronomy, state and social</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn1" name="groovybtn1" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 1 Agronomy, state and social " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CA%5CG%5CAgronomystateandsocial.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn2" class="visuallyhidden">2 All-Ukrainian Union of Zemstvos</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn2" name="groovybtn2" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 2 All-Ukrainian Union of Zemstvos " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CA%5CL%5CAll6UkrainianUnionofZemstvos.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn3" class="visuallyhidden">3 Andriievsky, Viktor</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn3" name="groovybtn3" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 3 Andriievsky, Viktor " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CA%5CN%5CAndriievskyViktor.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn4" class="visuallyhidden">4 Architecture</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn4" name="groovybtn4" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 4 Architecture " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CA%5CR%5CArchitecture.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn5" class="visuallyhidden">5 Autonomy</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn5" name="groovybtn5" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 5 Autonomy " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CA%5CU%5CAutonomy.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn6" class="visuallyhidden">6 Bohomazov, Oleksander</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn6" name="groovybtn6" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 6 Bohomazov, Oleksander " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CB%5CO%5CBohomazovOleksander.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn7" class="visuallyhidden">7 Boiko, Vasyl</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn7" name="groovybtn7" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 7 Boiko, Vasyl " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CB%5CO%5CBoikoVasyl.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn8" class="visuallyhidden">8 Cherniavsky, Mykola</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn8" name="groovybtn8" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 8 Cherniavsky, Mykola " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CH%5CCherniavskyMykola.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn9" class="visuallyhidden">9 Chernihiv</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn9" name="groovybtn9" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 9 Chernihiv " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CH%5CChernihiv.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn10" class="visuallyhidden">10 Chernihiv region</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn10" name="groovybtn10" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 10 Chernihiv region " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CH%5CChernihivregion.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn11" class="visuallyhidden">11 Conservatism</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn11" name="groovybtn11" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 11 Conservatism " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CO%5CConservatism.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn12" class="visuallyhidden">12 Co-operative movement</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn12" name="groovybtn12" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 12 Co-operative movement " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CO%5CCo6operativemovement.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn13" class="visuallyhidden">13 Co-operative press</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn13" name="groovybtn13" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 13 Co-operative press " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CO%5CCo6operativepress.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn14" class="visuallyhidden">14 County</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn14" name="groovybtn14" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 14 County " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CO%5CCounty.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn15" class="visuallyhidden">15 Danylevsky, Hryhorii</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn15" name="groovybtn15" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 15 Danylevsky, Hryhorii " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CD%5CA%5CDanylevskyHryhorii.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn16" class="visuallyhidden">16 Drahomanov, Mykhailo</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn16" name="groovybtn16" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 16 Drahomanov, Mykhailo " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CD%5CR%5CDrahomanovMykhailo.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn17" class="visuallyhidden">17 Embroidery</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn17" name="groovybtn17" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 17 Embroidery " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CE%5CM%5CEmbroidery.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn18" class="visuallyhidden">18 February Revolution of 1917</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn18" name="groovybtn18" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 18 February Revolution of 1917 " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CF%5CE%5CFebruaryRevolutionof1917.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn19" class="visuallyhidden">19 Federalism</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn19" name="groovybtn19" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 19 Federalism " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CF%5CE%5CFederalism.htm'"> <label for="groovybtn20" class="visuallyhidden">20 General Ukrainian Non-Party Democratic Organization</label> <INPUT id="groovybtn20" name="groovybtn20" class="groovybutton" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE=" 20 General Ukrainian Non-Party Democratic Organization " ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CG%5CE%5CGeneralUkrainianNon6PartyDemocraticOrganization.htm'"> </Div> <BR> <P class="tc"> <form name="bbback" action="self"> <label for="groovybtnN" class="visuallyhidden">Next 20 records</label> <INPUT id="groovybtnN" name="groovybtnN" class="groovybutton marginTenPix" TYPE=BUTTON VALUE="+ 20 Records >>" ONCLICK="document.location.href='https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?page=2&ffpath=pages%5CZ%5CE%5CZemstvo.htm#linksaddress'"> </form> <p class="tc b">A referral to this page is found in 103 entries.</p> <BR> </DIV> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=" bg8 tc marginZero FontWhite FontVerdana" aria-label="local"> <br> Click Home to get to the IEU Home page; to contact the IEU editors click Contact.<br> To learn more about IEU click About IEU and to view the list of donors and to become an IEU supporter click Donors.  <br>  <br> <ul class="marginZero" role="navigaton"> <li class="queryFontInline"><a class="buttonZ" href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com" title="IEU Home Web Page" target="_blank">Home</a></li> <li class="queryFontInline"><a class="buttonZ" href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/contact.asp" title="Contact IEU Staff" target="_blank">Contact</a></li> <li class="queryFontInline"><a class="buttonZ" href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/info.asp" title="Information about IEU" target="_blank">About IEU</a></li> <li class="queryFontInline"><a class="buttonZ" href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/donor.asp" title="Donors web page" target="_blank">Donors</a></li> <li class="queryFontInline"><a class="buttonZ" href="https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/donate.asp" title="Donors Web page">Donate to IEU</a></li> </ul>  <br> <span class="FontSizeSmall" > ©2001 All Rights Reserved. Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies. </span>  <br>  <br> </div> <script type="text/javascript">  </script> </body> </html>