Konstantin Arabazhin

Konstantin Arabazhin (2nd/14th of January 1865, Kyev, Russian Empire – 13th of July 1929, Riga, Republic of Latvia)  – professor of Slavic philology, the founder and rector of the Russian University Courses in Riga (established in 1921).

Konstantin Arabazhin was a descendant of the nobility of  Kyev  governorate. He graduated from the University of St. Prince Vladimir in Kyev and became a specialist in Russian literature and the founder of the first People’s University in Petersburg. Since 1913 he had been a professor of Helsingfors (now Helsinki) University. In autumn 1920 K.Arabazhin was invited to the University of Latvia to read lectures on the history on Russian literature. He also read lectures at Latvian People’s University and Jewish  Conservatory, where he taught Russian language and literature. K.Arabazhin is noted for his contribution to the Russian culture and education in Latvia, as a rector of the first private higher educational institution - the Russian University сourses.

Sergey Tsoia

Sources of information:

Светлана Ковальчук. Константин Иванович Арабажин

Светлана Ковальчук. Константин Иванович Арабажин (1866–1929). - Покровское кладбище. Слава и забвение. - Рига, 2004

Татьяна Фейгмане. Русские в довоенной Латвии – Глава III. Русские студенты в высшей школе

Сергей Цоя. Русский вуз в довоенной Латвии

Русские университетские курсы в Риге. Краткий отчет о деятельности (1921–1922). – Рига, 1922

Русские университетские курсы в Латвии. Юбилейный сборник (1921–1926). – Рига, 1926