All news

Capital centennial: Moscow as Russia’s seat of power for over 100 years

On March 12, 1918, after 200 years of St. Petersburg’s time as Russia’s capital, the Bolsheviks returned this leading role to Moscow

On March 12, 1918, after 200 years of St. Petersburg holding this title, Moscow became the capital of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. The city ceased to be Russia’s capital in 1712, as Peter the Great moved the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg to underline his drive to westernize the country. Take a look at the reality of life in early 20th-century Moscow captured in these TASS photographs