The originality of the historical preparation of the spread of Marxism in Russia is revealed, the circumstances of the emergence of the first Marxist organizations, their ideology, their practical activities, their relationships, the place and significance of each of them in strengthening the Marxist direction in the Russian revolutionary movement are specifically investigated. The history of the emergence of Marxism in Russia was primarily the history of the struggle of Russian Marxists with populist socialism. Of great interest is the question of the nature and significance of the first steps of the labor movement in Russia, on the basis of which the first Russian Marxist groups appeared.