On Origins of "Vassilieff’s Letter" on January 8 (21) 1905
Ivan Vassilieff was one of leaders of St.-Petersburg’s Workers’ Association killed on January 9 (22) 1905 in St. Petersburg. His role in the events was made up largely by Le Figaro special correspondent in St. Petersburg Georges Bourdon in February 1905. Later in 1905 his name was transformed into a symbol of martyrdom for revolution by Russian émigré and liberal media and was used in campaign for election of the First Duma. Vassilieff’s story was later incorporated into a Soviet narrative of Bloody Sunday of 1905.