Novgorodskaya Newspaper Ilmen’ (1906–1907): Political Evolution from “Center” to “Left”

Abstract

The study examines the history of the private Novgorod publication Ilmen’, which emerged in 1906 in the wake of preparations for the elections to the II State Duma. The publication was weekly and came out in only 24 issues, but during this short period it significantly changed its political orientation. This was largely determined by the change of editors: N. Vasilevsky was replaced by M. Rubakin. The newspaper is also interesting in so far as it published letters from the deputy of the Duma from the Novgorod province P.G. Izmailov, a peasant who was a member of the Social Democratic Party. He used the newspaper as a platform for speaking out about important socio-political issues.