In 1899, during the Russian Student Strike, the government had given Sipyagin "the power of imposing military service as a punishment for acts of civil disobedience towards the University authorities, and themselves to appoint special committees, or rather Courts nominated ad hoc..."[1] He remained the interior minister from 20 October 1899 to 2 April 1902.
Sipyagin received the Order of Saint Vladimir as an Imperial favour for the New Year 1900, shortly after accepting the position as Minister.[3]
References
^Peter Kropotkin (1902). "Russian Schools and the Holy Synod". The Council of the Ministers, in which K. Pobedonostsev has a seat in his capacity of procurator of the Holy Synod -- in a 'Cabinet meeting,' as he writes — had thus prepared a law which gave to two ministers the power of imposing military service as a punishment for acts of civil disobedience towards the University authorities, and themselves to appoint special committees, or rather Courts nominated ad hoc, for the purpose of applying that most extraordinary punishment just as they liked.
^Ian Nish (1985). The Origins of the Russo-Japanese War. Longman. ISBN0582491142), p. 144.
^"Russia". The Times. No. 36039. London. 15 January 1900. p. 6.