Date: 1917
Source: ru:PSS/v35

The Second All‑Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies has opened. The vast majority of Soviets are represented at the Congress. A number of delegates from peasant Soviets are also in attendance. The mandate of the conciliatory Central Executive Committee has come to an end{6}. Relying on the will of the overwhelming majority of workers, soldiers, and peasants—and drawing upon the victorious uprising of workers and garrisons that has taken place in Petrograd—the Congress assumes power into its own hands.

The Provisional Government has been overthrown. The majority of the members of the Provisional Government have already been arrested.

Soviet power will immediately offer a democratic peace to all nations and an immediate armistice on all fronts. It will ensure the free transfer of landed estates, princely domains, and monastic lands to the disposal of peasant committees; it will defend the rights of the soldier by fully democratizing the army; it will establish workers’ control over production; it will ensure the timely convocation of a Constituent Assembly; it will see to the delivery of bread to the cities and of essential supplies to the countryside; and it will guarantee all nations inhabiting Russia the genuine right to self‑determination.

The Congress resolves: all power at the local level shall pass to the Soviets of Workers’, Soldiers’, and Peasants’ Deputies, which alone must ensure a truly revolutionary order.

The Congress calls upon the soldiers in the trenches to remain vigilant and steadfast. The Congress of Soviets is confident that the revolutionary army will be able to safeguard the revolution against all encroachments by imperialism—until the new government secures the conclusion of a democratic peace, which it will directly offer to all peoples. The new government will take every measure necessary to provide the revolutionary army with all that it needs, through resolute policies of requisition and taxation of the propertied classes, while also improving the conditions of soldiers’ families.

The Korntilovists—Kerensky, Kalедин, and others—are attempting to lead troops against Petrograd. Several units, deceitfully mobilized by Kerensky, have gone over to the side of the insurgent people.

Soldiers, actively resist the Korntilovist Kerensky! Remain on your guard!

Railway workers, halt all trains being sent by Kerensky toward Petrograd!

Soldiers, workers, and office employees—within your hands lies the fate of the revolution and the fate of a democratic peace!

Long live the revolution!

All‑Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies

Delegates from the Peasant Soviets

Written on October 25 (November 7), 1917