"The base and wicked murder of the Russian sovereign in the midst of his loyal people, prepared to lay down their lives for him, by worthless scum, is a terrible, shameful, unheard of thing in Russia, and has darkened the whole land with grief and horror.…We have been called upon to affirm and protect for the people’s good against any encroachment upon [autocratic power]."

— From the Manifesto of Alexander lll Affirming Autocracy, 1881

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