Ilya Vladimirovich Zaytsev,
All-Russia State Library for Foreign Literature,
1 Nikoloyamskaya Str., Moscow, 109189, Russia,
ilyaaugust@yandex.ru.
The article analyzes the text of the telegram1 sent by the residents of Bakhchisarai on February 22, 1907 to F.A.Golovin, Chairman of the Second State Duma, soon after it was opened. The author of the telegram wishes the citizens civil equality and religious freedom. Obviously, those ideas possessed the minds of many citizens of the Russian Empire, including a considerable number of Muslims. From organizational and representative viewpoints, the Second Duma was quite favourable for the Muslims of the country, but its elimination pushed back the implementation of those ideas.
Key words: Second State Duma, Muslim fraction, Bakhchsarai, Ismail Gasprinsky.