Loris Melikov Reforms

• The failure of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78 and the famine of 1879-80 showed that maybe more reform was needed.
• A commission under Count Loris-Melikov was set up which led to a document making recommendations that was signed by Alexander II on 13 March 1881.
• All political prisoners were to be released.
• Censorship was to be relaxed.
• Some zemstva restrictions were to be lifted and a partially elected national assembly would be set up.
• The salt tax would be removed.
• The Third Section would be abolished and replaced with the Okhrana.