WORKERS AND SOLDIERS MARCHING IN THE STREETS OF SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIAN EMPIRE, AFTER TAKING OVER CONTROL OF THE CITY, FEBRUARY 1917

The figure presents a photograph that shows a large group of people carrying rifles as they march down a city street. The people include both men and women. Some of the men are wearing soldiers’ caps and uniforms, but most of the people appear to be civilians.
Keystone-France/Contributor
The unrest reflected in the image is best explained by which of the following features of the Russian government at the time of the photograph?