Transformation of the judicial system in the territory of Belarus (1772–1796)

  • Ihar H. Hushchynski Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank, 18 Savieckaja Street, Minsk 220030, Belarus

Abstract

Changes in the judicial system on the territory of Belarus after incorporation into the Russian Empire (as a result of the three partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth 1772, 1793, 1795) are described in detail and comprehensively in this article. During the reign of Catherine II, the local judicial system had become the object of the governments activities aimed at streamlining it, strengthening state control over it, introducing a model of the judiciary based on the Russian model. In this context the introduction of the provincial reform of 1775 by Catherine II was especially important. At the same time, in the sphere of civil proceedings Polish language and local legal norms (the Statute of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania of 1588 and the resolutions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealths Sejm) were remained. This contributed to adaptation of new courts to specificity of this territory. On the other hand, it was a sign of recognition and securing a special political and legal status for the western borderland of the empire. After the change on the Russian throne of Catherine II by her son Paul I, the structure of the judicial authorities of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was restored.

Author Biography

Ihar H. Hushchynski, Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank, 18 Savieckaja Street, Minsk 220030, Belarus

PhD (history), docent; deputy dean for educational work at the pre-school faculty

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Published
2019-02-15
Keywords: partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian Empire, Belarusian provinces, the judicial system, the Lithuanian Statute, Catherine II, the provincial reform of 1775
Supporting Agencies The author is grateful to Anatoly Pavlovich Zhitko, doctor of science, professor at the department of history of Belarus and Slavic peoples of the Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank for assistance in preparing the article.
How to Cite
Hushchynski I. H. Transformation of the judicial system in the territory of Belarus (1772–1796) // Journal of the Belarusian State University. History. 2019. 1. PP. 34-45.
Issue
No 1 (2019): Journal of the Belarusian State University. History
Section
Belarusian History

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