Bezdna Unrest

1861 Bezdna Unrest or Bezdna Peasant Revolt (Бездненские волнения, Бизнә крәстияннәр кузгалышы) was an unrest of former serfs after the Emancipation reform of 1861 in Russia in April 1861. The events took place in the Spassky Uyezd of Kazan Governorate and the center of unrest was a village of Biznä (Tatar Cyrillic: Бизнә, Russian: Бездна).

The leader of the unrest was a literate peasant Anton Petrov. The insurgents decided that the reform was interpreted incorrectly and after the private freedom reforms should declare every desyatina in possession of peasants. The insurgents also declared that they refused to continue payments to their landlords and suspend all works at their lots.

About 5000 peasants from 130 villages in the area joined the unrest. Military forces were sent to subdue the riot under general-mayor Anton Apraksin. Soldiers opened gunfire, and 57 peasants were killed (by other sources 91), more than 350 were injured.

After the massacre the Kazan intelligentsia held a commemoration service in the Kurtina Church, where university lecturer Afanasy Shchapov delivered a revolutionary speech. Later, Shchapov was sentenced to exile in Siberia.