UNREST IN RUSSIA,

Otago Witness, Issue 2454, 27 March 1901, Page 17

UNREST IN RUSSIA,

THE GOVERNMENT ALARMED. THE EXCOMMUNICATION OF TOLSTOI. ST. PETERSBURG, March 19. The Countess Tolstoi has protested to the synod against the excommunication of her husband. Large numbers of workmen have joined the pro-Tolstoi students at St. Petersburg. There was serious rioting inside the Kazan Cathedral, and the rioters were only ejected after fierce fighting, the Cossacks using their whips brutally. Several women and children were crashed to death. Seven hundred students have been arrested, whilst lOu have protested to the Holy Synod against Tolstoi's excommunication, and petitioned the Metropolitan to excommunicate them also. These latter assembled in the Cathedral, shouting and smoking, upsetting the images, and whistling while the holy communion was preparing. A great riot occurred at NeAvsky Prospect, owing to the military preventing the celebrating of the anniversary of the death of a heroine who fell a victim to political tyranny. A revolutionary proclamation, leaded " Down with the Czar J " " Down with rotten officials ! " was scattered broadcast. All the military police at St. Petersburg were required to restore order. LONDON, March 24. Forty-five Russian authors and professors have appealed to the foreign press to communicate to the world the Cossacks' ferocities at Rockies (?), during the recent riots, upon 17 inoffensive and unarmed students.

March 25. A sanguinary encounter between 800 Cossacks and 5000 riotous workmen occurred at St. Petersburg yesterday. Lagorski, a Russian piovincial official and a follower of Count Tolstoi, fruitlessly attempted to assassinate K. P. Pobedonostzeff, secretary of the Holy bynod, firing four revolver shots through the latter's study window. The social unrest has created consternation in official circles since the Ministers of Justice and of the Interior and War have been threatened with assassination. A meeting of the Council of Ministers is being held to consider the situation, the Czar presiding.