Elena Koudryavtseva
Institute for Russian History, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE IDEA OF RUSSIAN PROTECTION

Since 1774 Russia was known as the country-protector for all orthodox population of Ottoman Empire. The VIII-th article of Bucharest’s treaty contained the condition of Serbia`s self-government existence. It was a great victory of Serbian’s idea of liberation. But the diplomatic reports of Russian representatives from Constantinople and later from Belgrade contained numerous evidences of displeasure of Serbians leaders concerning Bucharest treaty.

Since 1812 to 1830, when Serbian`s autonomy was recognized in Europe, Milosh Obrenovich tried to avoid the interference of Russian government into internal policy of Serbia. Serbian`s successors were sure that Russia opposed all their initiatives, especially their wishes to establish relations with European countries. By the beginning of Crimean war the relations between Serbian`s leaders and Russia were especially hard. That is why the Serbian`s government refused to render help to the protector during the war.