Soudní proces ruského kněze Nikolaje Nikolajeviče Ryžkova

Abstract

The text focuses on the Russian Orthodox priest Nikolay Nikolayevich Ryzhkov, who was appointed to work in Czech Orthodox churches at the beginning of the 20th century. During that period, many people in the Czech lands converted to Orthodoxy and Ryzhkov was one of the leading organizers of Orthodox life. His activity spanned a number of fields. The main aim of the paper is to point out Ryzhkov’s activity, which left a considerable mark in the Czech context. The study also focuses on the society of Pravoslavná beseda where Ryzhkov presided in 1909–1911. Ryzhkov’s activities were cruelly punished when he was accused of plotting against Austria, and he was found guilty of Panslavic propaganda amongst Czechs by a court in Vienna. He was also accused of organizing and inciting steps leading to intervening with the unity and security of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. The goal of this work is to introduce the circumstances of the trial, the interpretation of the court file and the reaction of Ryzhkov to the arrest and conviction. We will attempt to answer the question on what charges the suspicion of treasonable activity arose and what circumstances led to these conclusions. A part of the text will also be devoted to Ryzhkov’s appeal, in which he highlighted some problematic aspects of the trial process and the prosecution itself, as well as his familiarity with the court file.