Vagrancy in Siberia and its persecution in pre-Soviet times

   In the context of the modern transformation of the Russian statehood, attention to the problems of countering criminal crime has naturally increased. Historical experience is of key importance. It is no coincidence that over the past decade, the study of manifestations of various types of illegal acts and ways to counteract them has noticeably intensified.

   The object of the study is the causes and factors that caused the spread of vagrancy in the territory of Eastern Siberia, the subject is the illegal acts accompanying this process.

   The purpose of the study is to determine the causes, content, trends and patterns of the spread of various forms of illegal acts carried out by the wandering population of the Eastern outskirts of the Russian Empire.

   The scientific novelty of the conducted research lies in the analysis of the dynamics and direction of the development of illegal acts of the vagrant population in the specific conditions of Eastern Siberia.

   From the very beginning of its development, Siberia was inextricably linked with the appearance on its territories of those who aspired to freedom and freedom from the environment. It was these socially unstable representatives of society that were considered to be vagrants. In the future, vagrancy spread across Siberian territories parallel to the genesis of the Russian penitentiary. Almost simultaneously with the transit parties, the institute of vagrancy penetrated into the most remote corners of the sparsely populated region. The rates of exile, which have increased every year with the existing shortcomings of the existing penitentiary system, have given rise to the phenomenon of mass vagrancy, and the lack of opportunities for its legitimate existence has led to its further criminal professionalization. Due to the opinion of Tsarist officials, the rational solution of social problems in the central regions of the country turned into an endless disaster for its outskirts. The vagabonds' complex and sometimes mutually dangerous relations with the Siberian population ranged from mutual benefit to the brutal extermination of opponents. Finding themselves virtually without support from the state, being exposed to constant risk, Siberians have developed certain ways of countering and adapted their attitude to this inevitable evil for them.

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