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First Revolutionary Government

Initially, the Provisional Government consisted of 11 ministers (later the number increased).

The idea to form a government composed of the Duma opposition first appeared in 1915. That year several moderate opposition factions consolidated and formed a progressive bloc. The Progressives called for a “government of confidence” that would be accountable to the Duma.

After the Revolution, members of the progressive bloc formed a transitional, provisional government led by Prince Georgy Lvov. Out of 11 ministers only Alexander Kerensky, minister of justice, was a member of the Socialist Revolutionary Party. The First Revolutionary Government was internationally recognized and adopted several crucial decrees, granting amnesty, abolishing capital punishment, disbanding the secret police and replacing the police with militia.

Minister-chairman of the Provisional Government Prince G. Lvov (2nd left) and Minister of War Alexander Kerensky (2nd right) with a group of generals. Sputnik

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During the initial two weeks of its existence the first Provisional Government was very popular among the people, but soon began to lose its appeal because it could not control the situation in Russia and intended to “fight till the end” in the war. By 1917 Russians no longer supported the war effort. The Russian Army was rapidly falling apart, following the adoption of ‘Decree #1’.

When Foreign Minister Pavel Milyukov sent the Allied Powers a telegram stating that the Provisional Government intended to continue the war, this caused a governmental crisis and brought about cabinet change.

On May 18 (5) it was replaced by the First Coalition Government.