The article discusses certain public projects of restoration of Russian traditional institutions, the so-called zemstvo councils. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the «Russian State Charters» written by Leonid Blyummer, which could serve foundation for the compromise version of evolutionary transformation of absolutism into a modern constitutional monarchy. The authors pay attention to trends of modernization and counter-modernization in Russia. The authors conclude that Alexander II could make a natural move to modernize the political system in an organic version; however, he did not dare do it. The authors believe that Alexander II could accept the aspirations of the educated class, whose members offered several alternative scenarios. Moreover, the Russian educated public expected the adoption of the constitution in the year of the Millennium of Russia. As a result, the political thaw was replaced by repressions against the reformist social movement. Therefore, the authors questioned the success of the «great reforms» from «above», which, according to the authors, led to a split in the national political elite, and subsequently to the revolution from «below» at the beginning of 20th century.