Kuban Rada of 1917-20

Kuban regional army Rada - the political organization of the Kuban Cossack army, created in April, 1917 in Ekaterinodar (nowadays Krasnodar).

After February revolution of 1917 April, 9 ( 22 ) in Ekaterinodar a regional congress of representatives from settlements was opened; at the same time the Cossack congress - Kuban army Rada - was held, where the temporary army government and the ataman of the Kuban army (colonel A.P.Filimonov) were elected. At the first session of Legislative Rada on Novemver 1 (14)-11 (24), 1917, instead of the temporary army government, the Kuban regional government was elected under L.L.Bych presidency (leader of "independent" movement on Kuban) which declared itself the Supreme authority on Kuban. In February, 1918 the pro-bolsheviks executive Soviet Committee of the Kuban area, placed in Armavir, declared the Kuban Rada and its government outlawed, and on March, 14, 1918 Red Army groups occupied Ekaterinodar. Expelled from the city, the Kuban Rada concluded the union with Voluntary army of general A.I.Denikin on March, 17, 1918. After occupation of Ekaterinodar by Denikin's armies in August, 1918 a new regional government was created, which supported Denikin's struggle against the Soviet authority, and at the same time it was against politics of a reconstruction of "united and indivisible" Russia and stood up for an autonomy of Kuban. This alignment named "chernomortsy", led by N.S.Rjabovol, A.I.Kulabuhov, Bytch, etc. met counteraction from the part of "lineytsy" (supporters of Denikin - D.E.Skobtsov, Philimonov, generals V.G.Naumenko, A.G.Shkuro, etc.), acting against an autonomy of Kuban. In June, 1919, in connection with great-power policy of Denikin, "chernomortsy" received a prevalence in the Kuban Rada: they were chosen into all governmental positions, adhering as a whole a principle of inalienability of the Cossack grounds, they carried out an "eser" land law and expanded some rights of nonresidents. In reply to it on June, 13 the Denikin armies killed Riabovol and Bardizh, "chernomortsy" were accused of the traitorous relations with abroad, and in November, 1919 general V.L.Pokrovsky made a military coup; "chernomortsy" partly ran or were sent abroad, and their leader Kulabuhov was hung up. Then the Kuban Rada selected a government which was more obedient to Denikin, and strengthened the authority of the ataman. This revolution had displeased a significant part of the Kuban cossacks in Denikin's army which came on a concession and had satisfied some requirements of the Kuban Rada (s.a. independence of the Kuban army, organization of the Supreme circle of Don, Kuban and Terek, etc.). On March, 17, 1920 the Kuban Rada ran from Ekaterinodar, occupied with the Red Army, to Novorossisk and soon collapsed.