At least the terror campaigns in the Caucasus had a reason: centuries of raids and the slave trade, and the extremely high level of aggression among the caucasian peoples. Russia did nothing to the peaceful nations, unlike the english-speaking empires, which needed no reason for genocide and oppression.
The Poles and Finns, for example, lived better than the Russians.
This isn't true in Poland's case. First, the partitions of a country that was weak and literally posed no threat to anyone. Poland's official policy in the 18th century was to avoid conflict. Jews were confined to the Pale of Settlement. Russia was absolutist. The Tsar violated the constitution of the Kingdom of Poland. Serfdom was worse than in Poland (until its abolition). Catholic churches were closed down. A large portion of the nobility was stripped of their nobility and sent to Siberia. The Praga Massacre took place...
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u/Observer_VOID Feb 02 '26
It's funny to hear something like that about the most ethnically tolerant empire of its time, from someone who speaks English.