Also
known as
The Moscow Center
Years
of activity
1918
Leaders
Aleksander Krivoshein
Pavel Novgorodtsev
Vladimir Gurko
Sergey Leontiev
The Right (Moscow) Center was an anti-Bolshevik political organization that united supporters of the constitutional monarchy in Moscow. The Center was founded in February–March 1918 by the representatives of monarchist groups, the Council of Public Figures, the Trade and Industrial Committee, the Union of Landowners, and Constitutional Democratic Party (K-D, Kadets) with the aim to overthrow the power of the Bolsheviks and prevent the seizure of power by the socialist parties. The following personalities played leading roles in the Right Center’s activities: Aleksander Krivoshein and Vladimir Gurko from the Union of Landowners, Sergey Leontiev from the Council of Public Figures and a former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Provisional Government, and Pavel Novgorodtsev from the K-D Party.
The organization saw Germany as the main ally in the fight against the Bolsheviks. However, at the end of May 1918, the Kadets at their party conference spoke out against contacts with Germany and for loyalty to Russia’s allies in the First World War. By the summer of 1918, the Kadets left the Right Center and joined the National Center.
In the summer of 1918, representatives of the Right Center held talks with employees of the German Embassy in Moscow about the possibility of occupying Central Russia, overthrowing the Soviet government, and forming a government that would be loyal to Germany. Negotiations were also held with the French government on financing and coordinating the policy of the Right Center with the policy of the Entente. The Right Center maintained regular communications with foreign anti-Soviet groups and provided them with military and political information.
The organization ceased its active operations in August 1918 due to the departure of many of its prominent figures from Moscow to the South.
Aleksander Krivoshein. 1910s.
Krivoshein Aleksander (1857–1921),
Russian statesman and politician. Chief Administrator of Land Management and Agriculture in 1908–1915. One of the Right Center founders and leaders. Head of the Government of the South of Russia under Peter Wrangel in 1920.
Pavel Novgorodtsev. Moscow. 1910.
Pavel Novgorodtsev (1866–1924),
lawyer, philosopher, professor at Moscow University, public and political figure. Represented the Constitutional Democratic Party in the Right Center leadership.
Vladimir Gurko. 1900s.
Gurko Vladimir (1862–1927), Russian statesman, Deputy Minister of Interior in 1906–1907, member of the State Council in 1912–1917. Represented the Union of Landowners in the Right Center leadership.