World War I and the
February Revolution brought hopes that the various minorities in the Russian Empire could attain some freedoms. The congress was organized by the
Ukrainian Central Rada to discuss these political aspirations and better coordinate their efforts. In total, there were 93 representatives of 20 nations, including
Belarusians,
Buryats,
Georgians,
Estonians,
Jews,
Lithuanians,
Latvians,
Crimean Tatars,
Moldavians,
Don Cossacks, and
Cossacks. Polish and Finnish representatives did not participate as they had already proclaimed independence. The
Russian Provisional Government was represented by
Maksym Slavinsky, member of the
Constitutional Democratic Party (Kadets). Latvians had ten representatives, including future Prime Minister
Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics. Estonians were represented by future Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ants Piip. The congress resolved the Russia should be organized as a federation of nations that would grant autonomy to the various nations. Only Lithuanians, represented by nine men, including
Augustinas Voldemaras,
Antanas Tumėnas, and
Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas, demanded full independence. The congress elected the Council of the Peoples of Russia, chaired by
Mykhailo Hrushevsky, and established journal (, Free Union). However, due to the
October Revolution, the council and the journal were short-lived. ==See also==