Redemption payments are governmentoperation, undertaken in the Russian Empire in connection with the termination of serfdom. Its main goal was the transfer of allotment land to peasant ownership. Before the beginning of this reform, people, having personal freedom, paid for the use of the landowner's land by quitrent and corvée. They were "temporarily liable peasants."
Redemption payments could be used outsidedepending on the desire of the landowner. However, the whole amount, which was calculated on the basis of articles of the Regulations, the peasant had to bear completely. A redemption loan was provided. But it took place only with the acquisition of field lands and homestead settlement lands. The conclusion of the transaction involved the termination of the obligatory land relations between the landowner and the peasant.
The redemption operation in practice assumed, asrule, a voluntary mutual agreement. Along with this, the landlord could demand that this operation be carried out in an obligatory manner. However, in this case, redemption payments were calculated on a loan, and the landlord lost the right to receive additional compensation. The additional amounts depended entirely on the agreement concluded between the landowner and the peasant, and therefore there are no exact statistics on this matter. It is known, however, that the amount of the additional amount was equal to twenty-twenty-five percent of the loan.
Redemption payments were for the peasant the heaviest kind of direct taxes. The size of the payments depended on the dues that existed at that time. However, the redemption payments were slightly less than the rent payments.
In non-chernozem gubernias, where more developedfishing, the amount for land was disproportionate with low profitability and value of land. In such regions the landowner exhibited his land for ransom with a certain economic calculation. And even if he lost additional payments, then, in effect, he sold the plot for a price much higher than its actual value. So, by 1877, the number of transactions at the request of the landlord was almost twice the number of transactions by mutual agreement.
The Provision on redemption provided for earlyand other forms of repayment. In accordance with one of the articles (Article 165), it was possible to make redemption payments and to require the separation of the relevant site immediately. This land became private property of the peasant. This article somewhat shaken the communal type of land ownership. By the end of the 19th century, the purchase of exactly one hundred and sixty-fifth article had increased considerably. So, until 1882, 47,735 allotments were transferred to peasant property, and five years later this figure increased to 101,413 allotments. Thus, by 1887, more than twice as much land and allotments were purchased, rather than in the previous twenty years.
There was a certain order, in accordancewith which a buyout was made to determine payments and loans. There was a yearly rent. He was installed for allotment for an indefinite use of the peasant. This quitrent was received by the landowner. The obsolete amount was capitalized from six percent. Of the calculated capital amount, eighty percent (in the case of the acquisition of a full allotment by a peasant) or seventy-five (if the peasant purchased a reduced plot) was given to the landlord.
Of the annual six percent payment of half a percentwas given to the government to cover the costs of organizing and conducting the operation, the remaining five and a half percent went to pay interest on securities issued to the landowner, as well as to repay the debt.
The abolition of redemption payments occurred in 1907,although it was planned in 1932. Early termination of operations was associated with the beginning of the Stolypin agrarian reform, as well as with the influence of the events of 1905.
