In the Russian Empire, inorodtsy (Russian: иноро́дцы) (singular: inorodets (Russian: инородец), literally meaning "of different descent/nation", "of alien origin") was a special ethnicity-based category of population that received a special treatment under the law.[1] Informally, the term referred to all non-Slavic subjects of the empire.[1]
Initially, a legal statute was introduced for special treatment of certain peoples of Russia (including a certain degree of protection for their traditional life) for which some laws of the empire were deemed inappropriate. Over time, the term acquired a pejorative connotation. Privileges and special treatment for inorodtsy varied depending on the group, area, and time period, but often included exemption of military service, reduction or exemption of taxes, protection of grazing lands, and religious and governmental self-administration.[2][3][4]
^James R. Millar (ed.) (2004) Encyclopedia of Russian History, MacMillan Reference, ISBN0-02-865693-8
^John W. Slocum, "Who, and When, Were the Inorodtsy? The Evolution of the Category of 'Aliens' in Imperial Russia", Russian Review, vol 57 (1998), pp. 173-190.