Olga Liubatovich
Encyclopedia
Olga Spiridonovna Lyubatovich was a Russia
n revolutionary
and member of Narodnaya Volya.
, born 1854. She wanted to study medicine
in order to become a doctor
, which was impossible for a woman to do in Russia. For this reason she went to study in Zürich
.
in Zürich
where she was recruited into the Revolutionary Socialist movement. She joined Pan-Russian social revolutionary group and in 1875 returned to Russia where she attempted to spread socialist propaganda among industry workers.
She was then arrested in Tula
and kept in prison for two years before appearing in court. She was found guilty of distributing illegal publications. She was sentenced to nine years hard labour. But this was reduced to banishment to Siberia
. In Tobolsk
she was able to employ her medical knowledge to help the local people, where she became known as the "miracle worker".
In 1876 Lyubatovich escaped from Siberia
and went into hiding in St. Petersburg
. There she joined a unit of Land and Liberty
group led by Sergey Stepnyak-Kravchinsky and Nikolai Morozov
.
Lyubatovich also spent six months in Geneva
where she lived with a group of émigré who had escaped from Russian authorities. This included Vera Zasulich
, whose attempt to murder General Trepov
, the Police chief of St. Petersburg, had made her a national figure in the revolutionary movement.
In October 1879, with Land and Liberty split into two, Lyubatovich joined the more radical Narodnaya Volya which adopted terrorist
tactics.
At a meeting of the Executive Committee of Narodnaya Volya on August 26, 1879, it was decided that the organization should attempt to assassinate Emperor Alexander II
. This led to Lyubatovich taking part in three unsuccessful attempts on the Tsar's life.
In 1880, there was internal dispute within the movement, on the purpose of terrorism. One side believing that terrorism's objective should be to force the government into granting democratic rights to the people, while others led by Lev Tikhomirov
who was influenced by Sergei Nechayev argued that it was possible for terrorism to be used for a small group or revolutionaries to snatch power and then hand it over to the people.
Lyubatovich and Morozov strongly disagreed with the ideas of Tikhomirov. They argued that this was an example of Jacobinism and would thus result in the kind of dictatorship
that had taken place after the French Revolution
.
In 1880, she and Morozov left Narodnaya Volya and went to live in Geneva
. While in exile Morozov wrote The Terrorist Struggle, a pamphlet that explained his views and how to achieve a democratic society in Russia. Based on ideas he and Lyubatovich had developed, moreover this literature advocated large numbers of small independent terrorist groups, he argued that this approach would make it difficult for the police to apprehend the terrorists. It would also help to prevent a small group of leaders gaining power, forming dictatorships after the overthrow of the Tsar.
Morozov returned to Russia in order to distribute The Terrorist Struggle. This led to his arrest soon after arriving. He was then imprisoned in Sulvalki. Lyubatovich only just having gone through child birth decided to attempt to rescue Morozov, though her plan did not go well, ending in her arrest leading to Liubatovich being sent to Siberia
in November 1882.
She was released following the 1905 Revolution, as part of a political amnesty. After her return to St. Petersburg she wrote her memoirs.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n revolutionary
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either actively participates in, or advocates revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.-Definition:...
and member of Narodnaya Volya.
Early life
Lyubatovich was the daughter of political a refugee from MontenegroMontenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
, born 1854. She wanted to study medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
in order to become a doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, which was impossible for a woman to do in Russia. For this reason she went to study in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
.
Revolutionary life
Lyubatovich met Vera FignerVera Figner
Vera Nikolayevna Figner was a Russian revolutionary and narodnik born in Kazan, Russia.-Biography:...
in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
where she was recruited into the Revolutionary Socialist movement. She joined Pan-Russian social revolutionary group and in 1875 returned to Russia where she attempted to spread socialist propaganda among industry workers.
She was then arrested in Tula
Tula, Russia
Tula is an industrial city and the administrative center of Tula Oblast, Russia. It is located south of Moscow, on the Upa River. Population: -History:...
and kept in prison for two years before appearing in court. She was found guilty of distributing illegal publications. She was sentenced to nine years hard labour. But this was reduced to banishment to Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. In Tobolsk
Tobolsk
Tobolsk is a town in Tyumen Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Tobol and Irtysh Rivers. It is a historic capital of Siberia. Population: -History:...
she was able to employ her medical knowledge to help the local people, where she became known as the "miracle worker".
In 1876 Lyubatovich escaped from Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
and went into hiding in St. Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
. There she joined a unit of Land and Liberty
Land and Liberty (Russia)
Land and Liberty was a Russian clandestine revolutionary organization of Narodniki in the 1870s...
group led by Sergey Stepnyak-Kravchinsky and Nikolai Morozov
Nikolai Alexandrovich Morozov
Nikolai Alexandrovich Morozov was a known Russian revolutionary who spent about 25 years in prison before turning his attention to various fields of science.- Revolutionary activities :...
.
Lyubatovich also spent six months in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
where she lived with a group of émigré who had escaped from Russian authorities. This included Vera Zasulich
Vera Zasulich
Vera Ivanovna Zasulich was a Russian Marxist writer and revolutionary.-Radical beginnings:Zasulich was born in Mikhaylovka, Russia, one of four daughters of an impoverished minor noble. When she was 3, her father died and her mother sent her to live with her wealthier relatives, the Mikulich...
, whose attempt to murder General Trepov
Fyodor Trepov
Fedor Fedorovich Trepov Senior was a Russian government official.Feodor Trepov began his military career in 1831 by participating in the suppression of the November Uprising in Poland in 1830–1831. He then commanded a cavalry regiment of gendarmes in Kiev...
, the Police chief of St. Petersburg, had made her a national figure in the revolutionary movement.
In October 1879, with Land and Liberty split into two, Lyubatovich joined the more radical Narodnaya Volya which adopted terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
tactics.
At a meeting of the Executive Committee of Narodnaya Volya on August 26, 1879, it was decided that the organization should attempt to assassinate Emperor Alexander II
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
. This led to Lyubatovich taking part in three unsuccessful attempts on the Tsar's life.
In 1880, there was internal dispute within the movement, on the purpose of terrorism. One side believing that terrorism's objective should be to force the government into granting democratic rights to the people, while others led by Lev Tikhomirov
Lev Tikhomirov
Lev Alexandrovich Tikhomirov , originally a Russian revolutionary and one of the members of the Executive Committee of the Narodnaya Volya, following his disenchantment with violent revolution became one of the leading conservative thinkers in Russia...
who was influenced by Sergei Nechayev argued that it was possible for terrorism to be used for a small group or revolutionaries to snatch power and then hand it over to the people.
Lyubatovich and Morozov strongly disagreed with the ideas of Tikhomirov. They argued that this was an example of Jacobinism and would thus result in the kind of dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
that had taken place after the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.
In 1880, she and Morozov left Narodnaya Volya and went to live in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. While in exile Morozov wrote The Terrorist Struggle, a pamphlet that explained his views and how to achieve a democratic society in Russia. Based on ideas he and Lyubatovich had developed, moreover this literature advocated large numbers of small independent terrorist groups, he argued that this approach would make it difficult for the police to apprehend the terrorists. It would also help to prevent a small group of leaders gaining power, forming dictatorships after the overthrow of the Tsar.
Morozov returned to Russia in order to distribute The Terrorist Struggle. This led to his arrest soon after arriving. He was then imprisoned in Sulvalki. Lyubatovich only just having gone through child birth decided to attempt to rescue Morozov, though her plan did not go well, ending in her arrest leading to Liubatovich being sent to Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
in November 1882.
She was released following the 1905 Revolution, as part of a political amnesty. After her return to St. Petersburg she wrote her memoirs.
Further reading
- Stepniak (Sergey Stepnyak-Kravchinsky), A Female Nihilist. Boston: Benjamin R. Tucker, 1886.