Principles of Russian law on Jewish settlement in Siberia in 1850s - early 20 centuries

There were many laws, rules and instructions, inwhich Siberia was considered as an area with special laws for the Jews. The rules about ''Siberian Jewish Pale of Settlement'' took aparticular place because they restricted the possibility of free travelling of Jews who settled down in Siberia. Siberian Jewish Pale ofSettlement was introduced de jure by the law of November 11, 1847. Still, it was not abiding till the 1890s, and the Jews lived all overSiberia, moved from one place to other with no regard of the place of registration. The local authorities watched for the exiled Jews notto leave Siberia. Since the 1890s, with the reign of Alexander the Third, the law about Siberian Jewish Pale of Settlement started toabide strictly. In addition, the attitude of the local authorities to the Jews was important. By the end of the 19th century Jews affected thelocal economy greatly, so the local authorities passed rules to restrict Jewish economic activity, without taking into account the period ofresidence and/or possible bankruptcy. The political situation also influenced the Jews' exclusion. During the Russian-Japanese war Jews'eviction stopped due to the mobilization of the Jews who lived out of the registration place. To avoid possible problems their familieswere permitted to live in places of residence without registration. But the existence of the Jewish Pale in Siberia was an obstacle to thedevelopment of local economy. Jews played a crucial pole in Siberian economy as they were essential mediators between town andvillage, often pioneering in different sectors. When restricted in movement they could not work, which influenced the local economybadly. In addition, the Jews had relations with Russian manufacturers and national treasury. As a result, the local authorities started toextend the borders of Siberian Jewish Pale of Settlement. The Jews tried to postpone eviction by special medical certificates, bribery andunclear laws. The law of March 20, 1917 abolished the Jewish Pale. Simultaneously the restricting rules for Siberian Jews wereabolished, too. To sum up, during the second part of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries the authorities had been trying to takeinto account the interests of economy and restriction of free travelling and settlement of the Jews. The reasons of banning to live on theterritories of Siberia were different, but generally the authorities tried to control Jews in Siberia.

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