Vasily Vitalievich Shulgin during his years in the State Duma (1907–1917): touches to the portrait of a politician

The article examines the main aspects of the journalistic and political activities of V.V. Shulgin, one of the most prominent figures in the public life of the Russian Empire in the last decade of its existence. This well-known politician, publicist, and memoirist lived for almost a century, witnessing a kaleidoscope of events from the last Romanovs to the Soviet stagnation. The article analyzes the content of the publications of the newspaper «Kievlyanin», which vividly responded to the most important events taking place in the country. The article is an attempt to complement the political portrait of V.V. Shulgin and to assess his journalistic legacy. Vasily Vitalievich's path to the State Duma and his activities as a deputy are shown. The politician was a staunch nationalist, and he paid special attention to the centralization of Russia and the fight against separatism on the outskirts. The testimonies of contemporaries who highly appreciated the abilities of V.V. Shulgin as an orator and publicist are given. The events that were reflected in the activities of the politician, such as the Beilis case or the First World War, are noted. It shows the ideological struggles of V.V. Shulgin, his place in the Duma polemic on the eve of the revolutionary events. In the proposed article, the authors provide archival materials and publications from periodicals that can significantly complement the political portrait of V.V. Shulgin and can be used to create his complete scientific biography. The article provides an overview of historiography and includes detailed quotes that vividly convey the «spirit of the era», which allows for additional source-based research to introduce little-known factual data into circulation.

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