THE ACTIVITIES OF PROTESTANT COMMUNITIES IN SIBERIA IN THE 1920S

Abstract

On the basis of archival materials the article examines the position and activity of Protestant communities of Siberia, including the Altai, in the context of state-confessional policy in the first years of the Soviet power. In the early 1920s state and confessional policy of the Soviet power, rather loyal to Protestants, provoked a certain numerical growth of the Protestant communities and inflow of new believers in already existing ones, throughout the entire territory of the RSFSR. The first legislation came to power; the Bolsheviks had a favorable effect on the activity of Protestant communities, and provided the Soviet regime numerous benefits, allowed reaching a new level of development. In all regions of the country including Siberia, local party bodies and the staff of the State Political Directorate (Joint State Political Directorate) provided strict control of activity of religious organizations, both official and illegal ones. The wide secret-service network including the enlisted parishioners and employees of the Joint State Political Directorate who are artificially introduced in arrivals was developed for this purpose...