The freedom of conscience controversy in Russian secular and church press in late 1904 – first half of 1905

The article is dedicated to the discussions in church and secular press on the problem of freedom of conscience and reformation of religious legislation in the Russian Empire in late 1904 – first half of 1905. It analyses the position of the leading Russian press organs of the period. The research is based on principle of historicism and structural approach and, while analyzing press materials, on comparative analysis and sample survey methods. The author concludes that the liberalization of the Russian religious legislation in 1905 was objectively inevitable, although it had mixed consequences.