n this article, based on the published monographic literature and unpublished archival
sources, the author analyzes the measures undertaken by the Russian imperial administration in
order to settle foreign merchants in Bessarabia. The author notes that the genesis and evolution of
the Bessarabian bourgeoisie in general, and the commercial – industrial in particular, was
influenced by multiple factors, both economic and political, both internal and external. A special
place in this respect belongs to the immigration of allogen merchants to Bessarabia – Armenians,
Greek, Jews.
