Raman Skirmunt
Encyclopedia
Raman Skirmunt was a notable Belarus
ian statesman, aristocrat and landlord.
Raman Skirmunt was born in the village Porzecze near Pinsk
into the local noble family of the Skirmunts. He graduated from a classical gymnasium in Riga
and the University of Warsaw
(law) and University of Vienna
(philosophy
).
In early 20th century Skirmunt was among the leaders of the local krajowcy
movement and advocated the creation of the Krajowcy Party of Lithuania and White Ruthenia as a common Polish-Belarusian-Lithuianian political organization.
In 1906 Raman Skirmunt became member of the Russian State Duma
where he initiated creation of a Polish-Belarusian fraction, the so-called Western Borderlands Group . Between 1910 and 1911 he was member of the State Council of Imperial Russia
.
In 1911 he returned to Belarus and worked as leader of the local zemstvo
of Minsk
.
In 1917 Raman Skirmunt was head of the Minsk branch of the Belarusian Society for Assistance to War Victims. In March 1917 he became president of the Belarusian National Committee in Minsk. In April 1917 he led the Belarusian delegation at talks with the Russian Provisional Government
demanding autonomy for Belarus.
In April 1918 Skirmunt became member of the Council of the newly proclaimed Belarusian Democratic Republic, in July he became prime minister of Belarus and secretary for foreign affairs. In November of 1918 he led the Belarusian diplomatic delegation in Germany and Switzerland
seeking international recognition of Belarus.
After the Polish-Soviet War
and the division of Belarus according to the Riga Peace Treaty, he advocated autonomy for West Belarus
within the Second Polish Republic
but was not politically active any more, mostly concentrating on his life in his manor. In 1930 he was elected Senator.
In 1939, upon annexation of West Belarus by the USSR, Raman Skirmunt was killed by some local people.
His cousin Konstanty Skirmunt
was a notable Polish diplomat and minister of foreign affairs.
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
ian statesman, aristocrat and landlord.
Raman Skirmunt was born in the village Porzecze near Pinsk
Pinsk
Pinsk , a town in Belarus, in the Polesia region, traversed by the river Pripyat, at the confluence of the Strumen and Pina rivers. The region was known as the Marsh of Pinsk. It is a fertile agricultural center. It lies south-west of Minsk. The population is about 130,000...
into the local noble family of the Skirmunts. He graduated from a classical gymnasium in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
and the University of Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
(law) and University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
(philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
).
In early 20th century Skirmunt was among the leaders of the local krajowcy
Krajowcy
The Krajowcy was a group of mainly Polish-speaking intellectuals from the Vilnius Region who, in the beginning of the 20th century, opposed the division of the former Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth into nation states along ethnic and linguistic lines. It was a reactionary movement against growing...
movement and advocated the creation of the Krajowcy Party of Lithuania and White Ruthenia as a common Polish-Belarusian-Lithuianian political organization.
In 1906 Raman Skirmunt became member of the Russian State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
where he initiated creation of a Polish-Belarusian fraction, the so-called Western Borderlands Group . Between 1910 and 1911 he was member of the State Council of Imperial Russia
State Council of Imperial Russia
The State Council was the supreme state advisory body to the Tsar in Imperial Russia.-18th century:Early Tsars' Councils were small and dealt primarily with the external politics....
.
In 1911 he returned to Belarus and worked as leader of the local zemstvo
Zemstvo
Zemstvo was a form of local government that was instituted during the great liberal reforms performed in Imperial Russia by Alexander II of Russia. The idea of the zemstvo was elaborated by Nikolay Milyutin, and the first zemstvo laws were put into effect in 1864...
of Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
.
In 1917 Raman Skirmunt was head of the Minsk branch of the Belarusian Society for Assistance to War Victims. In March 1917 he became president of the Belarusian National Committee in Minsk. In April 1917 he led the Belarusian delegation at talks with the Russian Provisional Government
Russian Provisional Government
The Russian Provisional Government was the short-lived administrative body which sought to govern Russia immediately following the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II . On September 14, the State Duma of the Russian Empire was officially dissolved by the newly created Directorate, and the country was...
demanding autonomy for Belarus.
In April 1918 Skirmunt became member of the Council of the newly proclaimed Belarusian Democratic Republic, in July he became prime minister of Belarus and secretary for foreign affairs. In November of 1918 he led the Belarusian diplomatic delegation in Germany and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
seeking international recognition of Belarus.
After the Polish-Soviet War
Polish-Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War was an armed conflict between Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic—four states in post–World War I Europe...
and the division of Belarus according to the Riga Peace Treaty, he advocated autonomy for West Belarus
West Belarus
West Belarus is the name used in reference to the territory of modern Belarus which belonged to the Second Polish Republic between 1919 and 1939. The area of West Belarus was annexed into the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic following staged elections soon after the Nazi-Soviet Invasion of...
within the Second Polish Republic
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
but was not politically active any more, mostly concentrating on his life in his manor. In 1930 he was elected Senator.
In 1939, upon annexation of West Belarus by the USSR, Raman Skirmunt was killed by some local people.
His cousin Konstanty Skirmunt
Konstanty Skirmunt
Konstanty Skirmunt was a Polish politician. Prior to 1914 he was elected to the State Council of Imperial Russia. He was a member of the Polish National Committee in Paris in 1917–1918, Polish ambassador in Rome in 1919–1921, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1921–22, and Polish ambassador in...
was a notable Polish diplomat and minister of foreign affairs.