Selected Speeches

A collection of the talented orator and lawyer Fyodor Plevako is now available in audio format!

Fyodor Nikiforovich Plevako (1842 – 1908) was a talented orator and an outstanding Russian lawyer—his name is known even to people far from jurisprudence. The lawyer became famous for his ability to convince any jury panel of the innocence of his clients.

This collection includes the most famous speeches by F. N. Plevako, which are not only an example of oratorical and legal art, but also—quite simply—captivating stories. What mitigating circumstances can be found for Abbess Mitrofanija, who cynically pocketed huge sums from the funds of trusting parishioners?

How can one justify Prince Gruzinsky, who shot his young children’s tutor in front of witnesses? How to sort out the tangled family drama that unfolded on the estate of the landowners Lukashevichs, and the audacious theft of valuable papers from the rich man Galich?

And what truly lay at the heart of the scandalous trial of officer Bartenev, who killed a beautiful actress— a case that inspired Bunin to write the brilliant story “The Case of Cornet Yelagin”?