Right-wing Russian periodicals on the Bukovinian Rusins (1900–1917)

This article examines the stance of Russian right-wing periodicals-including newspapers and magazines-toward the Rusin population of Bukovina. It analyzes relevant publications from leading conservative outlets such as Russkoe Znamya, Zemshchina, Novoye Vremya, Kolokol, Moskovskie Vedomosti, Grazhdanin, Russkiy Vestnik, and Pochaevskiy Listok, among others. Key themes addressed in these sources include Bukovina's natural and geographical features, the social structure of the local Rusin community, their relations with Austro-Hungarian authorities, and their religious and cultural characteristics. Russian right-wing commentators consistently highlighted the repressive policies of the Austro-Hungarian government toward the Rusins and strongly opposed efforts to Ukrainianize the local Orthodox population. Additionally, several publications outlined prospective visions for the future of Bukovina's Rusins within the Russian Empire. However, the February Revolution of 1917 ultimately thwarted such plans, and all right-wing periodicals were shut down that same year. The article concludes that the right-wing press's interest in the Rusins of Bukovina was largely stimulated by significant socio-political developments, particularly the Russian occupation of the region during World War I. This event fueled hopes among conservative circles for the reunification of Bukovina's Rusins with the broader Russian populace.

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