The Influence of the Family Ties of the Decembrists on the Investigative Process of 1825–1826: Relatives of the Government and Military Leaders who Escaped Judicial Punishment

Abstract

The article discusses the impact of family ties on the investigative process regarding the Decembrists’ case. It specifically examines individuals who avoided trial and were instead subjected to administrative punishment, pardoned by the Emperor, released from punishment, or recognized as not involved in the case, despite evidence of their participation in the Decembrist societies. Notable figures such as M. F. Orlov, P. P. Lopukhin, L. P. Vittgenstein, and A. A. Suvorov are highlighted. The author aims to determine the extent to which familial relationships impacted the investigative processes and outcomes for defendants who had relatives in positions of power, including prominent government and military officials. By comparing the determined “degree of guilt” with the final verdicts, the article seeks to answer whether external influences played a crucial role in determining the fate of the accused. This analysis reveals a more complete and detailed examination of the subject than previous historiography. The findings suggest that familial connections significantly affected the investigation, resulting in many individuals being excluded from punishment, either through forgiveness or being deemed not involved in the case. The study notes specific instances where relatives of influential officials received reduced sentences, and it highlights how petitions to higher authorities and unspoken pressures, sanctioned by Nicholas I, influenced the course of the investigation. This effect became evident in the expedited handling of cases, a reduction in investigative measures, selective data collection, the dismissal of incriminating testimonies, and an overreliance on exculpatory evidence, all without the usual confrontations present in such investigations. The author concludes that the impact of familial ties is not always evident in the surviving records. There is an implication that, in addition to direct petitions by members of influential families to the Emperor, the highest authorities also considered the interests of prominent government and military figures, likely in an effort to bolster their allegiance.