Pro et contra the Decembrists’ legal vision: lessons from history

The Decembrists continue to captivate minds, not only as proponents of radical legal ideas with the potential to transform society, but also as participants in events whose methods raised questions about their legitimacy. Their projects, inspired by Western thought, proposed profound changes to the legal system, including the separation of powers and the codification of laws. However, the failed uprising on Senate Square led to a backlash from the authorities and ensuing repression. While the Decembrists’ influence on Russia’s cultural heritage is undeniable, questions remain regarding the prudence of their actions and the cost of revolutionary reform. Discussion of these contradictions offers new perspectives for understanding the development of Russian legislation and social transformation. These critical issues were explored during the session entitled Pro et Contra the Decembrists’ Legal Vision: Lessons from History, which was held during the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum – 2025.

Key conclusions

The transformation of state structures requires an adapted legal system, which can be either evolutionary or disruptive

“Any change in state structure entails a change in the legal system. The key issue is whether the new legal framework succeeds the previous one, or whether, as in the case of revolution, everything is destroyed and something entirely new is built in its place,” Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation.

Russia must maintain stability and avoid upheaval in order to achieve substantial national development

“Russia needed peace and an absence of turmoil or revolution. Had there been no civil war and no Second World War, by 1950 the population within Russia’s present borders – excluding the national periphery – would have reached 300 to 350 million. This alone shows that when Russia lives in peace and is not shaken by upheaval, it achieves remarkable and tangible results,” Konstantin Chuychenko, Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation.

The Decembrists had a significant impact on Russian cultural heritage

“I can only add one thing: I went to school for many years with Igor Kostolevsky, who played a leading role in the well-known film The Star of Captivating Happiness. So my very presence here is, in itself, an argument in favour of the Decembrists. Moreover, Decembrism had an immense influence on Russian culture. I believe that, without the Decembrists, there would have been no Petrashevsky Circle, no Dostoevsky novels, and much else besides,” Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation.

Problems

Reform demands careful planning and thorough evaluation of its consequences

“How should reform be conducted? From below, or from above? Russian history is so marked by revolutionary upheavals that the country has, in a sense, grown weary of it. Today, many advocate for a fundamental reassessment of the Decembrist period. We understand that every reform, every legal change, comes at a cost. The real question is whether the price paid aligns with the outcomes achieved. Is the cost justified? Does legal reform truly lead to improved lives? These are among the deepest and most serious questions facing both the law and human existence,” Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation.

Intellectual orientation of the Russian elite towards Western European ideas and thought

“It is entirely objective to say that the intellectual compass of the Russian elite has always, without exception, pointed westward. All the thoughts and ideas that inspired those who wished well for our country – genuinely sincere patriots – were formulated, as has just been demonstrated with compelling examples, precisely within the context of Western European thought and ideas,” Andrey Loginov, Rector, Russian State University for the Humanities.

Western models are often ill-suited to the Russian context

“Even Marxist theory, after all, was developed based on the experiences of three European countries – Germany, England, and France. From there came the concepts of class, class struggle, base and superstructure. Yet the world developed differently. We are all familiar with the ‘Asiatic mode of production’, where base and superstructure are one and the same, and rent and tax are identical. The majority of the world followed this model, which implies a fundamentally different nature of both state and law,” Konstantin Chuychenko, Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation.

The Decembrists failed to realize their ideals due to internal contradictions and lack of popular support

“The Decembrists were all landowners who possessed serfs, and, forgive me, not one of them freed their serfs. Meanwhile, Benckendorff – head of the security department – did. As for the courage of the Decembrists, take Trubetskoy, appointed dictator and leader of the uprising. He never appeared on Senate Square. The night before, he secluded himself in a prayer room, lost consciousness, was found somewhere, and behaved in a thoroughly unbefitting manner,” Konstantin Chuychenko, Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation.

Solutions

Enacting laws that support the development of civil society and the protection of human rights

“When you examine the contents of the Russkaya Pravda and compare them with what was adopted in the first, second, and early third State Dumas, you see a clear pattern – an algorithm, so to speak. It is this pattern that compels us, even two hundred years later, to return to these events and to seek what was truly unique in them,” Andrey Loginov, Rector, Russian State University for the Humanities.

Hosting an academic conference on the Decembrists in 2025

“Given the importance of the topic and the strong interest it generates – and considering that this panel discussion can only address the subject in fragments – I propose that in December 2025, the Ministry of Justice hosts a full academic and practical conference on the Decembrists. And I would warmly invite everyone to take part,” Konstantin Chuychenko, Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation.

*This is a translation of material that was originally generated in Russian using artificial intelligence.

For more information, visit the Roscongress Foundation’s Information and Analytical System at roscongress.org/en

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