The disturbances and unrest in St Petersburg, Moscow and in many other
parts of our Empire have filled Our heart with great and profound sorrow.
The welfare of the Russian Sovereign and His people is inseparable and
national sorrow is His too. The present disturbances could give rise to
national instability and present a threat to the unity of Our State. The
oath which We took as Tsar compels Us to use all Our strength, intelligence
and power to put a speedy end to this unrest which is so dangerous for
the State. The relevant authorities have been ordered to take measures
to deal with direct outbreaks of disorder and violence and to protect people
who only want to go about their daily business in peace. However, in view
of the need to speedily implement earlier measures to pacify the country,
we have decided that the work of the government must be unified. We have
therefore ordered the government to take the following measures in fulfilment
of our unbending will:
Fundamental civil freedoms will be granted to the population, including
real personal inviolability, freedom of conscience, speech, assembly and
association.
Participation in the Duma will be granted to those classes of the population
which are at present deprived of voting powers, insofar as is possible
in the short period before the convocation of the Duma, and this will lead
to the development of a universal franchise. There will be no delay to
the Duma elections already organized.
It is established as an unshakeable rule that no law can come into force
without its approval by the State Duma and representatives of the people
will be given the opportunity to take real part in the supervision of the
legality of government bodies.