Alexander Protopopov

Alexander Protopopov was born in Russia in 1866. He was a textile manufacturer and a deputy in the Duma and its vice chairman in 1914. Suffering from poor health, he sought the help of Gregory Rasputin. Bernard Pares, he British Military Observer to the Russian Army, commented: "Protopopov was elected to the Duma... there he posed as a moderate liberal asking for an extension of parliamentary rights."

In September, 1916, Nicholas II appointed Protopopov as his Minister of the Interior. His fellow deputies in the Duma saw his acceptance of this post as political treachery. Rumours circulated that he owed the position to the influence of Alexandra and Gregory Rasputin. It was also claimed that Protopopov and Boris Sturmer were involved in peace talks with Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Alexander Kerensky argued: "In the course of a few months this man, who was in fact the last Minister of the Interior of the Russian Empire, managed to incur the wrath and hatred of the whole nation. Soon afterwards the whole story came out. Evidently, Protopopov was suffering from an incurable venereal disease, for which he had been under the care of Dr. Badmayev for many years. It was in Badmayev's house that he met Rasputin, who had had no difficulty in subjugating a man with a disturbed mind, although Protopopov did do his best to conceal his friendship with Rasputin. Rasputin introduced him to the Tsarina, whom he charmed. It was she who subsequently suggested him for the post of Minister of the Interior."

Bernard Pares claimed that Protopopov was supported by Mikhail Rodzianko and Alexander Guchkov: "Rodzianko, who was a poor judge of men, took account of him; so also did Guchkov, who regarded him as a man who could get things done. In the Duma, as elsewhere, Protopopov played for popularity, and was this to be considered as a member of the Progressives. Protopopov was in reality not Rodzianko's man, but Rasputin's. Protopopov, who was suffering from advanced syphilis and this made his physically weak and mentally unstable."

After the abdication of Nicholas II, the Provisional Government ordered the arrest of Protopopov. Alfred Knox argues that he arrived at Taurida Palace and told one of the guards: "I ask you to take me to the Executive Committee of the Imperial Duma. I am the former Minister of the Interior, Protopopov. I also wish well to my country, and that is the reason I have come of my own free will. Take me to the people who want me." He was still in prison when the Bolsheviks gained power and on 1st January, 1918, he was executed.

Primary Sources

(1) Bernard Pares, a British academic, met several of the leading political figures in Russia during the summer of 1914.

Protopopov was elected to the Duma, and was actually chosen as Vice-President; there he posed as a moderate liberal asking for an extension of parliamentary rights.

Suffering from ill health, which was later to develop into progressive paralysis, he sought the attentions of Rasputin, who put him through a prolonged cure.

Rodzianko, who was a poor judge of men, took account of him; so also did Guchkov, who regarded him as a man who could get things done. In the Duma, as elsewhere, Protopopov played for popularity, and was this to be considered as a member of the Progressives. Protopopov was in reality not Rodzianko's man, but Rasputin's.

(2) Alexander Kerensky, Russia and History's Turning Point (1965)

I returned to Petrograd during the third week in September. A new Minister of the Interior had just been appointed, and the choice had fallen on Alexander Protopopov, former vice-president of the Duma. In the course of a few months this man, who was in fact the last Minister of the Interior of the Russian Empire, managed to incur the wrath and hatred of the whole nation.

Soon afterwards the whole story came out. Evidently, Protopopov was suffering from an incurable venereal disease, for which he had been under the care of Dr. Badmayev for many years. It was in Badmayev's house that he met Rasputin, who had had no difficulty in subjugating a man with a disturbed mind, although Protopopov did do his best to conceal his friendship with Rasputin. Rasputin introduced him to the Tsarina, whom he charmed. It was she who subsequently suggested him for the post of Minister of the Interior.

(3) In his book With the Russian Army: 1914-1917, Alfred Knox described how Alexander Protopopov arrived at the Duma after the abdication of Nicholas II.

A student standing in the open space before the Taurida Palace was accosted by an individual in an old fur coat with muffled-up face. "Tell me, you are a student?" "Yes." "I ask you to take me to the Executive Committee of the Imperial Duma. I am the former Minister of the Interior, Protopopov"; then in a lower voice with lowered head: I also wish well to my country, and that is the reason I have come of my own free will. Take me to the people who want me."