The struggle for the moral image of the city: regulating prostitution and relocating brothels to the outskirts of Vladivostok in the early ХХth century

The article analyzes the repeated attempts by the Vladivostok authorities in the early 20th century to relocate brothels from the city center to the outskirts in order to improve the city's sanitary and moral condition. Drawing on archival materials, the study examines the activities of the Vladivostok Medical and Police Committee, which was established to regulate prostitution and control the spread of venereal diseases. Particular attention is paid to the conflict between the regional administration, the municipal government, and the brothel owners, who resisted moving to underdeveloped areas. The author demonstrates that, despite repeated orders from the military governor, the relocation was ultimately protracted due to the lack of infrastructure on the outskirts, co-vert sabotage by the brothel keepers, and the authorities' fears that resorting to extreme measures would provoke a rise in illegal prostitution and a surge in venereal diseases.