The Russian diplomat G. S. Shcherbina, who tragically died in the Balkans at the age of less than 35, came from a carpenter's family, a man of outstanding abilities. His name, which attracted the attention of the Russian press in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was then forgotten .1
Grigory Stepanovich was born on November 21, 1868 in Chernihiv 2 . In a boarding school for the poor, he received preparatory education for entering the gymnasium, and from the fifth grade he worked part-time as a tutor. In 1886, he graduated from the gymnasium with a silver medal and entered the Moscow Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages, where he graduated with honors in 1889. As the best graduate student, Shcherbina was recommended to the Department of Oriental Languages of the Asian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and successfully graduated three years later. He wrote his dissertation on the political history of Turkey in Turkish. In April 1890, while practicing at the Embassy in Constantinople, he was confirmed with the rank of collegiate secretary. In 1894, the Russian Geographical Society awarded Shcherbina the silver medal "For Useful Work" for her contribution to the work of the Marmara Sea research expedition and recommended her for election as a full member of the society .3
Shcherbina was proficient in Latin, Ancient Greek, Arabic, Turkish, Tatar, Persian, Georgian, Armenian, Albanian, Bulgarian, Serbo-Croatian, French, English, Italian and German, was interested in political economy, and played the piano and violin. Contemporaries say of him: "Extremely capable, hardworking, extremely attentive to everything,.. very friendly,.. energetic, courageous person "4 ;" nice personality,.. a person of extremely broad views, rare energy "5 ;" a wonderful person, calm, balanced will " 6 .
Shcherbina's short career was connected with working in Russian diplomatic missions in the Ottoman Empire and its Balkan provinces. He was a translator in Constantinople
1 The material is based on information from the Archive of Foreign Policy of Russia, the Russian periodical press of the late XIX-early XX centuries, as well as manuscripts and photographs sent from Kharkiv by Shcherbina's niece O. A. Kotlikova. In addition to the theses of the report of G. L. Mankovskaya "On the opening of the first Russian consulate in Kosovo Mitrovica "(Nodal issues of Soviet Slavic studies. Abstracts of reports and reports of the IX All-Union Scientific Conference of Slavic Historians September 21-23, 1982 Uzhgorod, 1982), there are no special works about Shcherbina. His scientific and literary works were not found, which were referred to by his contemporary Andreevsky (E. K. Andreevsky in memory of our Consul in Albania Grigory Stepanovich Shcherbina. - Russkaya starina, 1916, vol. 168, October, p. 26).
2 AVPR, full name of the Department of Personnel and Economic Affairs, "Executive department", 1 desk, op. 749/1, 899.
3 IRGO, 1894, vol. 30, pp. 769-770; vol. 31, issue 1, pp. 66-67; issue 2, p. 195.
4 Andreevsky E. K Uk. soch., p. 26.
5 Chernihiv gubernskie vedomosti, 4. IV. 1903.
6 Vozhin P. Russkoe gore [Russian grief]. - Novoe vremya, 28. III. 1903.
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under the consul, in Uskuba (now Scopla) - secretary, in Scutari (modern times). Shkoder) - Vice-consul and in Kosovo Mitrovica - Consul. Shcherbina "was not a cold diplomat" 7; "he did not hide his origin and, as a truly modest person, did not show off this deliberate democracy, but sincerely loved and revered his simple parents, never alienating the environment from which he came.. he was not proud, despite his proximity to the rulers of many countries and his high position as a representative of the Russian state. " 8 Prominent scientist, prof. Belgrade Higher School of Economics. Zweich noted that Shcherbina "is a highly remarkable consul, because he has, in addition to intelligence, a lot of heartiness, a lot of faith." 9
Shcherbina took his service extremely seriously. This "excellent Oriental scholar ""studied not only the languages of all the Balkan peoples, but also their way of life, mutual relations, and political situation" 10 and decided to devote himself to "selfless asceticism among the Balkan peoples" 11, and "in his eyes, the legitimate interests of the Christian and Muslim populations required equal treatment and care" 12 . From 1897 to 1902, he was Vice-Consul in Scutari, the administrative center of the predominantly Albanian vilayet. His arrival there coincided with the 1897 agreements between Austria - Hungary and Italy, Austria-Hungary and Russia to maintain the status quo in the Balkans. As can be seen from his reports, the Vice-consul tried to maintain this line and approved of such measures of the local authorities as the prohibition of blood feuds and the carrying of weapons. Scherbina described the provocative activities of Austrian diplomatic representatives, especially T. Ippen, as contradicting "the statements of the Austro-Hungarian government that it wants peace and order in the Balkans", emphasizing that such a policy "can disrupt the calm in the region"13 .
They spent a lot of time implementing Russia's traditional policy of supporting the Orthodox population, which suffered particularly severe oppression from the Turkish authorities. When he traveled to the vilayet, he was able on several occasions to get the Administration to stop such harassment.
Shcherbina is "an expert in Albanian morals" 14, "has earned universal trust and popularity among the population "15," Mr. Shcherbina is better acquainted with Albanians than all the consuls in the Balkan Peninsula. He has traveled all over Albania on horseback, accompanied only by kavas [16] and is familiar with all the Albanian notables of Northern Albania."[17] Zviich, who came to the Skutari Vilayet for scientific purposes, recalled that the Albanians allowed him to travel there only because he had permission from Shcherbina 18 . In a report from the Russian mission in Cetinje dated April 4, 1903, it was stated that "during his service in Scutari, he..... he managed to inspire deep respect and love for himself, and was used in Montenegro... wide popularity and general sympathy " 19 .
Shcherbina sent more than 100 reports from Scutari, mainly to the Russian Embassy in Constantinople. They reflect the range of his political and diplomatic interests and are also important as a unique source of study of Albania at that time. With great sympathy, he wrote about the "difficult economic situation of the country, the extreme poverty of the population"; "despite the fertility and richness of the soil, the fertile climate, the land remains uncultivated or cultivated as much as it is necessary for the personal needs of the owner; crafts and industry are absent; the commercial value of Sku-
7 St. Petersburg Vedomosti, 29. III. 1903.
8 V. B. Na rodine G. S. Shcherbina [In the homeland of G. S. Shcherbina]. - Novoe vremya, 14. IV. 1903.
9 Chernihiv gubernskie vedomosti, 4. IV. 1903.
10 Andreevsky E. K. Uk. soch., p. 26.
11 In B. Uk. op.
12 Andreevsky E. K Uk. soch. - Russian Antiquity, 1916, vol. 168, November, pp. 289-290; Vozhin P. Uk. op.
13 AVPR, f. Politarkhiv, 1898, op. 482, d. 1231, ll. 1, 15.
14 Novoe vremya. 1.IX.1902.
15 Vozhin P. Opening of the Russian Consulate in Kosovo Mitrovica. - Novoe vremya, 5. XI. 1902.
16 Kavas-a Muslim honor guard with police powers, assigned to diplomatic officials of any rank and to the highest Turkish officials.
17 Chernihiv gubernskie vedomosti, 4. IV. 1903.
18 AVPR, f. Politarkhiv, 1901, op. 482, 1234, l. 58.
19 Ibid., 1903, op. 482, d. 2634, l. 63.
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tari, according to the unanimous opinion of local merchants, is falling from year to year."20 Calling Scutari "a forgotten and abandoned region for which the Turkish government does not want to do anything" and whose population "lives in poverty and poverty among the riches of nature that surround it, which it does not know how and often cannot use", Shcherbina naively believed that "the main reason for the decline of the Scutari trade and the economic well-being of the population lies in He expressed the hope that the construction of the railway would "raise the city's declining prosperity from year to year, revitalize its trade, and restore Scutari to its former years of wealth, commercial and economic prosperity." 21
Shcherbina's reports reflect the vilayet's problems: the disastrous state of the financial system, communication and trade routes, the disintegration of the Turkish army, clashes between the Catholic and Muslim populations, cases of blood feuds and the attitude of the administration towards them, the oppression of Orthodox christians, conflicts between believers and the highest clergy, mutual sympathies of Albanians and Montenegrins, the desire of local youth to study in Russia, Austrian propaganda among the Catholic population, Italian influence (opening of Italian schools and post office in Scutari, trade with Italy). The author of the reports made extensive use of various statistical materials 22 .
Shcherbina's reports repeatedly describe numerous cases of local residents applying to the Russian consulate for assistance, including requests to arrange to study in educational institutions in Russia. Of particular interest are reports of Albanians ' defiance of the Turks, especially the Mirdita Highlanders, their growing national consciousness "due to the increased activity of numerous Albanian committees in Italy, Egypt, Romania and Belgium", and the desire to revive the Albanian League, the organization that led the national liberation movement in 1878-1881 .23 The reports contain information about one of the prominent figures of the league, Prenk Bib Doda, who sought to "unite all the mountain Albanian tribes under his rule, create an Albanian independent principality" 24 . Exiled in 1880, Doda continued to appear dangerous to Istanbul, and the authorities refused to grant him permission to return to Mirdita .25
In the autumn of 1902, Shcherbina was appointed consul to the Kosovo Mitrovica region, which has a mixed Serbian Orthodox, Albanian Catholic and Muslim population. They were going to carry out reforms to ease the fate of Christians. Proposed in 1902 by Russia, Britain, France, and Austria-Hungary, they met with Muslim resistance and the evasive attitude of the Turkish authorities. Scherbina's reports from there spoke of judicial reforms and the authorities ' connivance in the persecution of Christians. Agents of Austria-Hungary provoked protests against the Russian diplomatic mission. On January 14, 1903, after receiving guarantees from Istanbul, Shcherbina arrived in Kosovska Mitrovica accompanied by a Cossack guard . Before leaving, anticipating the worst, he left a will in Constantinople with a request to bury him in Chernihiv in case of death .28 The consulate building was a two-story building with small outbuildings, surrounded by a fence made of twigs... The new consul was described as follows: "He is of average height, blond, a real Russian. His features are soft, his eyes are intelligent, and his manners are calm and noble. " 29
A little more than two months Scherbina stayed in Kosovska Mitrovica 30 . In a letter to Andreevsky, he reported on the creator-
20 Ibid., 1898, op. 482, d. 123, ll. 17-19.
21 Ibid., 1900, op. 482, d. 1233, ll. 58-62.
22 Ibid., 1897-1902.
23 Ibid., 1899, op. 482, d. 1232, ll 3-4, 51-52; 1901, op. 482, d. 1234, ll. 59-60; 1902, op. 482, d. 1235, ll. 35-36. To these reports Shcherbina gave with his comments four appendices: texts of resolutions, letters and appeals related to the creation of the state in 1899. Russian League (ibid., 1899, op. 482, 1232, ll. 14-22, 28-30).
24 Ibid., 1901, op. 482, d. 1234, ll. 51-54.
25 Ibid., 1902, op. 482, d. 1235, l. 22.
26 Ibid., f. Embassy in Constantinople, 1903, d. 2020, l. 3.
27 Ibid., 2021, l. 1.
28 For more information, see: Letter of A. V. Sinitsky, the husband of Shcherbina's sister, dated 30. III. 1903 (ibid., op. 517, d. 5292, ll. 2-4; Novoe vremya, 4. IV. 1903).
29 Chernihiv gubernskie vedomosti, 4. IV. 1903.
30 AVPR, f. Embassy in Constantinople, 1903, d. 2021; f. Political Archive, 1903, op. 482, d. 1009.
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there is an alarming situation: "It is not the Turks, or the Albanians, or the Bosnians who will destroy us and our cause here." He laid the main blame on the Austrians, who keep "a sharp knife in their bosom ready against us" 31. On March 18, 1903, Shcherbina was seriously wounded by a Turkish soldier. The Russian press gave frequent reports about the state of his health, about the emergency meeting of the Turkish Council of Ministers on March 19, the sending of doctors by the Serbian king and the Turkish Sultan to treat Shcherbina, and the arrival of the Russian Consul V. F. Mashkov from Uskub in Kosovo Mitrovica to replace the wounded man .32 On March 28, Shcherbina died. On the same day, Mashkov sent telegram No. 33 to Tsarskoye Selo .
In the Russian press and reports from Russian diplomats from the Balkan countries, the blame for what happened was laid on agents of Austria-Hungary and the Turkish authorities, who did not ensure the safety of the consul. 34 The press published information about the memorial service, the transportation of the deceased's body to Chernihiv and the funeral, the condolences of the Serbian king and Queen, the Montenegrin prince, the Turkish government, the Serbian embassy in St. Petersburg, various organizations and individuals; 35 providing military honors to the deceased on the route of the Donets steamer to Russia; memoirs of Shcherbina's teachers, the Chernihiv governor and others. 36 ave . In Belgrade, a subscription was opened for the formation of a foundation named after him to award prominent public figures .37 In Kosovar Mitrovica, there is a monument to Shcherbina, damaged during the Second World War38 . In the photos sent to the author by Kotlikova, there is an image of this monument with a portrait of Shcherbina, indicating the dates of his life and the inscription that the monument was erected on behalf of citizens and officers of the garrison of Kosovska Mitrovica in 1928. Shcherbina left a warm memory of himself in those parts of the Balkans where he had to work. The residents of Kosovska Mitrovica also have good memories of him .39
31 Andreevsky E. K. Uk. soch. - Russkaya starina, 1916, vol. 168, December, p. 458.
32 AVPR, f. Politarkhiv, 1903, op. 482, dd. 1009, 2634.
33 Ibid., f. Embassy in Constantinople, op. 517, d. 5292, ll. 2-4; 1903, d. 2021, ll. 98-99; f. Political Archive, 1903, op. 482, d. 2634, l. 38.
34 Novoe vremya, 28. III. 1903; Moskovsky weekly, 8. IV. 1903; Vestnik Evropy, 1903, vol. 3, pp. 339-352; AVPR, f. Politarkhiv, 1903, op. 482, d. 1009, l. 127; d. 60, ll. 127, 142-143, 146, 179; d. 1009, l. 92.
35 Historical Bulletin, 1903, N 5; Russian Bulletin, 1903, April; Vestnik Evropy, 1903, vol. 3; Chernihiv Gubernskie vedomosti, 14, 16. IV. 1903; AVPR, f. Politarkhiv, 1903, op. 482, dd. 498, 1009; d. 498, l. 231.
36 Novoe vremya, 15. IV. 1903.
37 AVPR, f. Politarkhiv, 1903, op. 482, d. 498, l. 205.
38 This was reported by Kotlikova on the basis of information she received from the AVPR on 17 March 1970.
39 Data from Kotlikova's personal archive.
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