Slavery in Russia Slavery in Russia Slavery in Russia was officially abolished in 1723, when Peter the Great converted household slaves to serfs. In 2013, Global Slavery Index reported that unsatisfactory living conditions of migrant workers who for a number of reasons can not obtain work permits in Russia but continue to work in the country illegally and for minimum wage. In Kievan Rus' and Muscovy, legal systems usually referred to slaves as "kholopy". A kholop's master had unlimited power over his life: he could kill him, sell him, or use him as payment upon a debt. The master, however, had responsibility before
Administrative divisions of Russia in 1719–1725 were introduced to replace the old system of subdivision into "uyezds"; however, the borders of the new districts did not match those of the old "uyezds". The purpose of the districts was also different from that of the "uyezds"—population of each district was taxed to support military units assigned to it. Administrative divisions of Russia in 1719–1725 The second administrative reform of 1719 was carried out by Peter the Great in order to fix the deficiencies of the original system. On June 9 (May 29 in the Julian calendar), 1719 Peter issued an ukase (edict) that abolished the division of