Tver Address

The Tver Address was an address (a written proposal) presented to Tsar Nicholas II on his ascension to the throne in 1894, by the most liberal zemstvo leaders.

The address was inspired by increased wishes for an "all-class zemstvo at the volost level", something the liberal nobles, like Prince Lvov, believed would integrate the peasantry into the local government.

In a subsequent speech the Tsar denounced the ideas as "senseless dreams", while emphasizing his "firm and unflinching" devotion to the "principle of autocracy". The speech infuriated public opinion, and within days the Ministry of the Interior resumed its persecution of the zemstvos.