Legal and Historical Aspects of the Creation of Volost Zemstvos in the Lower Amur (1917–1920)

The article examines the development of local government bodies – volost zemstvos – during the Provisional Government period and prior to the establishment of Soviet power in the Russian Far East in the first half of the 20th century. The issue of creating volost zemstvos in the country is considered in three aspects. Firstly, from the point of view of the development of the legal framework governing the functioning of local self-government. Secondly, from the perspective of law enforcement practices during the Revolution and Civil War. The third equally important aspect is the specifics of the region, i. e. Nizhny Amur is located within the borders of the Sakhalin Oblast, established in 1917 with its center in Nikolaevsk-on-Amur. Previously unanalyzed factual material is introduced into scholarly circulation, allowing us to trace the fates of individuals who participated in the turbulent events of the first half of the 20th century.