Mikhail Muravyov-Vilensky

In 1816 he became a co-founder of the first Decembrist societies, and, although he didn't actively participate in the movement after 1820, he was briefly apprehended by the police after their failed uprising in December 1825.

Alexander II appointed him Minister of State Properties, a position which Muravyov used to lead the reactionary party opposed to the emancipation of the serfs.

As a consequence, for Poles and liberal Russian circles Muravyov became known as the "hangman of Vilnius" [1] even in modern Polish historiography he is sometimes referred to by his contemporary nickname, 'Wieszatiel' ('hangman').

[1] After defeating the rebels militarily, Muravyov began a series of deep reforms which aimed at the liquidation of the breeding grounds for future uprisings.

He paid much attention to the restoration of the Orthodox character of Belarus since he regarded this as the best means against potential disloyalty and because he was convinced that he was liberating ancient Russian (Rus') lands from Polish subjugation.

He was however instrumental in rooting out Roman Catholicism in Belarus, prohibiting construction of new churches and converting the existing ones to Eastern Orthodox chapels.

Assessment of Muravyov's activity by the educated strata of the Russian society varied from enraptured odes by Fyodor Tyutchev to caustic satires by Nikolai Nekrasov.