Anna Shabanova in 1914

Anna Shabanova, the daughter of a wealthy landowner, was born in Russia in 1848. When she was a young woman she joined a radical political group and in 1865 was arrested and imprisoned for six months.

Shabanova wanted to become a doctor and unable to train in Russia moved to Helsinki. She returned in 1873 when a new women's medical course started in St. Petersburg. In 1878 she became one of the first women in Russia to qualify as a doctor.

Shabanova was one of the founders of the Russian Women's Mutual Philanthropic Society and during the 1905 Revolution campaigned for women's suffrage.

Anna Shabanova

1. Was highly critical of Nicholas II and the autocracy.

2. Wanted Russia to have universal suffrage.

3. Wanted the Russian government to allow freedom of expression and an end to political censorship of newspapers and books.

4. Thought Russia should support Serbia against the Triple Alliance.

5. Thought Russia should honour its obligations and support the Triple Entente against the Triple Alliance.

6. As the Russian Army was the largest army in the world she was convinced that Russia would defeat Austria-Hungary and Germany in a war.