Alexander Kazembek (White emigré)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Lvovich Kazembek ' onMouseout='HidePop("87886")' href="/topics/Kazan">Kazan
– 21 February 1977, Moscow
), often spelled Kazem-Bek or Kasem-Beg, was a Russian émigré
and political activist, and founder of the Mladorossi
political group.
origin. His grandfather and namesake Alexander Kazembek
was a prominent Russian scholar, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences
and the British Royal Asiatic Society
. After the October Revolution
and the White Army's loss of Povolzhye
and Siberia
, the Kazembeks emigrated to Belgrad (where Kazembek finished high school) and later to Munich
. In 1925, Kazembek graduated from Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris
and started working at a credit union in Monte-Carlo, Monaco
. In 1929, he returned to Paris
already as a famous political activist within Europe's Russian community. In the 1920s, Kazembek founded the Mladorossi
. His charismatic persona, clear ideas and oratorical abilities led to strong support of his leadership by many White émigrés.
Like many other expatriate Russian political organizations of the pre-World War II
decades, the Mladorossi sought restoration of the monarchy in Russia. In addition, the main goal was to meet the needs of the poor and somewhat preserve contemporary ruling methods in the Soviet Union
, however, without dismissing traditional values
and institutions. Kazembek placed great emphasis on the role of the Russian Orthodox Church
(persecuted by Joseph Stalin
at the time). Some regarded this idea as utopic and an oxymoron
, which is why in the West the Mladorossi were often seen as Soviet agents, whereas in the Soviet Union they were presented as nationalists and imperialists. Kazembek's political popularity started to decline after it was revealed that he held meetings with a number of Soviet
officials who were trying to recruit him into collaboration. In 1940, he was arrested and detained in a concentration camp. However he was soon released and moved to San Francisco, CA
, where he worked as a columnist for the Russian-language newspaper, Novaya Zarya and assisted the YMCA
in providing help to the Russian hostages in German
camps. Thus by 1942, the Mladorossi party was proclaimed officially dismissed. Between 1944 and 1957 Kazembek taught the Russian language
and literature
at Yale University
and Connecticut College
. He was also deeply involved in religious work and cooperated with various Russian Orthodox organizations in North America
. In 1954, while visiting New Delhi
Kazembek applied for permission to return to the Soviet Union permanently.
In 1957, his reputation suffered a blow when Pravda
published a pro-Soviet article and claimed that Kazembek was its author. He demanded immediate rehabilitation from the newspaper and threatened to commit suicide if his demands were not met. In 1957, his request of the Soviet citizenship was sustained. He returned to the Soviet Union
and worked at the Moscow Patriarchate's Department of Exterior Affairs until his death in 1977. He was buried in the village of Lukino
(a Moscow
suburb) near the local Church of the Transfiguration.
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
– 21 February 1977, Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
), often spelled Kazem-Bek or Kasem-Beg, was a Russian émigré
White Emigre
A white émigré was a Russian who emigrated from Russia in the wake of the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War, and who was in opposition to the contemporary Russian political climate....
and political activist, and founder of the Mladorossi
Mladorossi
The Union of Mladorossi was a political group of Russian émigré monarchists who advocated a hybrid of Russian monarchy and the Soviet system, best evidenced by their motto "Tsar and the Soviets"....
political group.
Life
Kazembek was born into a wealthy noble family of AzeriAzerbaijani people
The Azerbaijanis are a Turkic-speaking people living mainly in northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as in the neighbourhood states, Georgia, Russia and formerly Armenia. Commonly referred to as Azeris or Azerbaijani Turks , they also live in a wider area from the Caucasus to...
origin. His grandfather and namesake Alexander Kazembek
Alexander Kazembek (Russian orientalist)
Alexander Kasimovich Kazembek , Russia, born Muhammad Ali Kazim-bey , was a famous orientalist, historian and philologist of Azeri origin...
was a prominent Russian scholar, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Academy of Sciences
The Russian Academy of Sciences consists of the national academy of Russia and a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation as well as auxiliary scientific and social units like libraries, publishers and hospitals....
and the British Royal Asiatic Society
Royal Asiatic Society
The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established, according to its Royal Charter of 11 August 1824, to further "the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia." From its incorporation the Society...
. After the October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
and the White Army's loss of Povolzhye
Volga economic region
Volga economic region tr.: Povolzhsky ekonomichesky rayon) is one of twelve economic regions of Russia.-Composition:*Astrakhan Oblast*Republic of Kalmykia*Penza Oblast*Samara Oblast*Saratov Oblast*Republic of Tatarstan*Ulyanovsk Oblast...
and Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, the Kazembeks emigrated to Belgrad (where Kazembek finished high school) and later to Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. In 1925, Kazembek graduated from Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris
Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris
The Institut d'études politiques de Paris , simply referred to as Sciences Po , is a public research and higher education institution in Paris, France, specialised in the social sciences. It has the status of grand établissement, which allows its admissions process to be highly selective...
and started working at a credit union in Monte-Carlo, Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
. In 1929, he returned to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
already as a famous political activist within Europe's Russian community. In the 1920s, Kazembek founded the Mladorossi
Mladorossi
The Union of Mladorossi was a political group of Russian émigré monarchists who advocated a hybrid of Russian monarchy and the Soviet system, best evidenced by their motto "Tsar and the Soviets"....
. His charismatic persona, clear ideas and oratorical abilities led to strong support of his leadership by many White émigrés.
Like many other expatriate Russian political organizations of the pre-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
decades, the Mladorossi sought restoration of the monarchy in Russia. In addition, the main goal was to meet the needs of the poor and somewhat preserve contemporary ruling methods in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, however, without dismissing traditional values
Traditional values
Traditional values refer to those beliefs, moral codes, and mores that are passed down from generation to generation within a culture, subculture or community.-Summary:Since the late 1970s in the U.S., the term "traditional values" has become synonymous...
and institutions. Kazembek placed great emphasis on the role of the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
(persecuted by Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
at the time). Some regarded this idea as utopic and an oxymoron
Oxymoron
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms...
, which is why in the West the Mladorossi were often seen as Soviet agents, whereas in the Soviet Union they were presented as nationalists and imperialists. Kazembek's political popularity started to decline after it was revealed that he held meetings with a number of Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
officials who were trying to recruit him into collaboration. In 1940, he was arrested and detained in a concentration camp. However he was soon released and moved to San Francisco, CA
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he worked as a columnist for the Russian-language newspaper, Novaya Zarya and assisted the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
in providing help to the Russian hostages in German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
camps. Thus by 1942, the Mladorossi party was proclaimed officially dismissed. Between 1944 and 1957 Kazembek taught the Russian language
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
and literature
Russian literature
Russian literature refers to the literature of Russia or its émigrés, and to the Russian-language literature of several independent nations once a part of what was historically Russia or the Soviet Union...
at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and Connecticut College
Connecticut College
Connecticut College is a private liberal arts college located in New London, Connecticut.The college was founded in 1911, as Connecticut College for Women, in response to Wesleyan University closing its doors to women...
. He was also deeply involved in religious work and cooperated with various Russian Orthodox organizations in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. In 1954, while visiting New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
Kazembek applied for permission to return to the Soviet Union permanently.
In 1957, his reputation suffered a blow when Pravda
Pravda
Pravda was a leading newspaper of the Soviet Union and an official organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party between 1912 and 1991....
published a pro-Soviet article and claimed that Kazembek was its author. He demanded immediate rehabilitation from the newspaper and threatened to commit suicide if his demands were not met. In 1957, his request of the Soviet citizenship was sustained. He returned to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and worked at the Moscow Patriarchate's Department of Exterior Affairs until his death in 1977. He was buried in the village of Lukino
Peredelkino
Peredelkino is a dacha complex situated just to the southwest of Moscow, Russia.-History:The settlement originated as the estate of Peredeltsy, owned by the Leontievs , then by Princes Dolgorukov and by the Samarins. After a railway passed through the village in the 19th century, it was renamed...
(a Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
suburb) near the local Church of the Transfiguration.
Further reading
- Massip, Mireille. Alexandre Kasem-Beg et l'émigration russe en Occident, 1902-1977. Georg Editeur S.A., Paris: 1999