Ten Days That Shook the World · Chapter
2: Protest of the Municipal Duma explained
The Petrograd City Duma, elected democratically, protests against the Bolsheviks' armed seizure of power and their demand for submission to Bolshevik commissars.
What happens
The Petrograd City Duma, elected democratically, protests against the Bolsheviks' armed seizure of power and their demand for submission to Bolshevik commissars. The Duma declares it will not submit to encroachments on its rights and appeals to all Dumas and Zemstvos in Russia to defend the independence of popular self-government.
Themes in this chapter
Struggle for Legitimacy and Power
The Duma asserts its own legal authority and refuses to recognize the Bolsheviks' claim to power, framing the conflict as a defense of democratic self-government against illegal encroachment.
Key passages
“The Central City Duma, elected on the most democratic principles, has undertaken the burden of managing Municipal affairs and food supplies at the time of the greatest disorganisation.”
The democratically elected City Duma has been responsible for running the city and providing food during a period of extreme chaos.
The Duma emphasizes its democratic mandate and its role in essential services.
“At the present moment the Bolshevik party, three weeks before the elections to the Constituent Assembly, and in spite of the menace of the external enemy, having removed by armed force the only legal revolutionary authority, is making an attempt against the rights and independence of the Municipal Self-Government, demanding submission to its Commissars and its illegal authority.”
The Bolsheviks, just three weeks before the Constituent Assembly elections and despite the threat from foreign enemies, have used armed force to overthrow the only legal government and are now trying to force the city government to obey their commissars and accept their unlawful rule.
The Duma accuses the Bolsheviks of illegality and of undermining democratic institutions.
“In this terrible and tragic moment the Petrograd City Duma, in the face of its constituents, and of all Russia, declares loudly that it will not submit to any encroachments on its rights and its independence, and will remain at the post of responsibility to which it has been called by the will of the population of the capital.”
At this dreadful and tragic time, the Petrograd City Duma announces publicly that it will not give in to any attacks on its rights and independence, and will continue to fulfill the duties entrusted to it by the people of the capital.
The Duma vows to resist Bolshevik pressure and uphold its mandate.
“The Central City Duma of Petrograd appeals to all Dumas and Zemstvos of the Russian Republic to rally to the defence of one of the greatest conquests of the Russian Revolution—the independence and inviolability of popular self-government.”
The Petrograd City Duma calls on all local governments across Russia to unite in defending one of the revolution's most important achievements: the independence and sanctity of democratic self-rule.
The Duma seeks solidarity from other municipal bodies against Bolshevik encroachment.