The 1868 Russian naval incident in Romanian Bessarabia: documents from the archives
The 1868 Russian naval incident in Romanian Bessarabia: documents from the archives

Summary/Abstract: Incidents involving the violation of sovereignty and international laws are always a reason for concern, especially if they take place between countries with an already strained relationship. The 1868 naval incident from Romanian Bessarabia, triggered by the Russian ship “Olga”, is a perfect example of this. Little studied archival documents from the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs offer us insight regarding the details of this unfortunate event from 150 years ago and the response of both countries in its aftermath. Thus, based on the analysis of historical documents, we can draw conclusions in two directions: the Romanian-Russian relationship at the time, and how the authorities handled the investigation of the incident. Since the naval incident took place in one of Romania’s most disputed regions, Bessarabia, this only adds to the importance of this research topic.

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