Evolution of state security system of the Western Urals in revolutionary period (1917 - early 1918)

This article focuses on problems, related to changes that took place in 1917 - the most significant period in Russian history. During that year 3 government alternation took place: autocracy crashed and was replaced by the bourgeoisie. Provisional government collapsed and ceded power to Soviet system. It had a major impact on state security issues. Old state security institutions were dismantled; its employees suffered persecution not only in the capital cities but also in the regions, which include the Western Urals. Agencies for combating counter-revolution were established spontaneously during that period. This tendency became stronger due to the weakening of the Provisional government and lack of possibilities to influence regional political processes. In opinion of Soviet historians, the organizing processes of extraordinary commissions bore no relation with imperial-era commissions as its functions, authorities and operating methods varied dramatically. The novelty of the article resides in examining the transformation process of state security institutions in the Western Urals taken together as a composite whole during 1917 and start of 1918 opposite to the Soviet historiography.