РОССИЙСКАЯ ДИПЛОМАТИЯ НА ВОСТОКЕ И ЕЕ РОЛЬ В ОБЕСПЕЧЕНИИ НУЖД ПАЛОМНИКОВ-МУСУЛЬМАН (ВТОРАЯ ПОЛОВИНА XIX НАЧАЛО XX ВВ.)

Abstract

Статья посвящена анализу практической деятельности российских дипломатических служб за границей по регулированию паломничества мусульман как в Мекку (и Медину), так и к шиитским святыням в Персии и «Турецкой Аравии». ; The problem of the relationship between the Muslim pilgrimage and Russian diplomacy of the late 19th century is not represented in the national, and even less in foreign historiography. Meanwhile, diplomatic ensuring of pilgrimage is an important indicator of the state's attention to its citizens. The subject of my article is practical activities of the Russian diplomatic service in the East, which regulates the pilgrimage of Muslims to Mecca (and Medina), as well as to the Shiite shrines in Persia and 'Turkish Arabia' (Iraq). Using textological, historical and logical, and institutional approaches, I have shown diplomatic regulation of Russian Muslims pilgrimage was a part of Russian Empire overall foreign policy of the. In the last third of 19th early 20th cc. Russia brisked up its activities in the Muslim East, which was explained by the necessity to curb the onslaught of its main foreign-policy opponents in this region such as Turkey, the UK, and then Germany. Prevailing interests of this activity were trade and economic. Also epidemiologic aspect occupied a special place in Russian diplomacy's activity in relation to hajj. I had studied activities of Russian Consulate in Jeddah for pilgrims' daily welfare support, their protection against fraud and political oppression. I conclude tsarist diplomacy in the East was closely connected with the problems of Muslims pilgrimage, and it had a positive impact not only on the development of the hajj, but also on the strengthening Russian Empire's position in the Near-East Region.