Old believers. Merchants and bureaucrats: from the history of bureaucracy and bribery in the reign of Nicholas I

The article deals with the relationship between Old Believers. merchants and officialdom in the age of Nicholas I. The author shows how the results of investigations of Raskol, which were carried out by the Ministry of the Interior, had influenced the state policy in relation to Old Believers. merchants in the 1850.s. The article is focused on how the Old Âelievers defended themselves against the state pressure.