Maitsemuutus

Maitsemuutus is a concept in Estonian politics and history, referring to the August 1917 Imperial Russian government decision to reintroduce the death penalty by hanging for soldiers who deserted from the army. This decision was seen as a significant departure from the more liberal policies that had been in place during World War I.

Initially, the death penalty for deserters had been abolished by Tsar Alexander II in 1885. The decision to reinstate the penalty was part of a broader effort by the Imperial Russian government to maintain troop morale and to punish those who had deserted during the war. The reintroduction of the death penalty was seen as a desperate measure by the government to address the growing desertion problem on the Eastern Front.

The Estonian people saw the reintroduction of the death penalty as a direct threat to their own rights and freedoms. Many Estonians had been opposed to the continuation of the war and had begun to organize protests and demonstrations calling for an end to the conflict. The reintroduction of the death penalty was seen as a declaration of war on the Estonian people and was met with widespread outrage and resistance.

The concept of maitsemuutus has since become a symbol of the ongoing struggle for Estonian independence and self-determination. It represents the determination of the Estonian people to fight for their rights and freedoms in the face of overwhelming oppression.