Post #5212

When British Officers Met Cossack Justice... 🔻On the Afghan border, казачий есаул [ka-za-chiy yi-sa-ul] a Cossack Yesaul (= commander) and his squadron intercepted a group of armed smugglers. Among them were two British officers! For border violation, smuggling, and armed resistance, the smugglers were dealt with decisively. 🔻However, instead of putting the British officers to death, the Yesaul ordered them to be publicly flogged with nagaikas: нагайка (нагайки) [na-gaj-ka (na-gaj-ki)] = Cossack whips, and then released. 🔻The British officers, outraged by this "barbaric" treatment, filed complaints that went all the way up to Queen Victoria herself! 🔻Furious, Queen Victoria sent an ultimatum to Tsar Alexander III, demanding that the Yesaul and his Cossacks be punished, and a formal apology be issued to the insulted British Crown. 🔻Here's what Alexander III telegraphed back: 1. No apologies whatsoever to the English Crown! 2. To the resolute Yesaul, send a personal Imperial telegram: 'Congratulations on your promotion to Colonel! Had you hanged them, you would be a General. Alexander. 3. Publish this telegram in all Russian newspapers! What a way to handle international relations! #Russian_history #brief_and_interesting 😎RCR | Support | Boost