Nikolai Petrusevich

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Nikolai G. Petrusevich (1838–1880)[1] was a Russian general, geologist, geographer, and scientist, notable for being a humanitarian officer in the Russian Army and a geographer of Afghanistan. He is credited with discovering the Sarygamysh Depression in 1876.[2] He died at the siege of Dengil Teppe.

Military career[]

In 1865, as captain, he took up service with the Karachai, where he learned the local language, the local customs, abolished serfdom, organized schools for gifted children, and even helped Muslims make their pilgrimage.[1]

In the early 1870s, when he was just a colonel, he was active in Turkey. He called the Ottoman Empire "rascals and thieves," because they had been merely enslaving exploiters of "Khivans, Bokharans, Persians."[3] On the other hand, he also criticized the Russian Army for barbarism and cruelty, writing...

"...[the Russian Army was ordered to] tie the captives to the city walls and begin shooting them at a distance of 300 paces. It should be clear enough that the regular infantry... could not manage to hit the targets... subjecting the unfortunate Turkmens to the torments of hell."[4]

Petrusevich also acted in a scientific capacity for the Russian Army, surveying the northern Afghanistan border.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Oleg Lyakhov (2009). "NC: A Monument To General Nikolai Petrusevich Will Be Erected". JusticeForNorthCaucasus.com.
  2. ^ Igor S. Zonn; M. Glantz; Aleksey N. Kosarev; Andrey G. Kostianoy, eds. (2009). The Aral Sea Encyclopedia. Encyclopedia of Seas. Springer Science & Business Media, Feb 8, 2009. ISBN 9783540850885.
  3. ^ Kathleen Hopkirk. "Last stand of Turcomans: Geok-Tepe, The Forbidden City; Central Asia - A Traveller's Companion". Eurasia.Travel.
  4. ^ Jeff Eden (2018). Slavery and Empire in Central Asia. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781108470513.
  5. ^ Theodore L. Flood, ed. (1889). "The Chautauquan". Chautauqua Press.
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