Russian diplomacy in the Balkans: mission of Ya. Ozereckovsky and E. Kovalevsky in Montenegro (1837 - 1838). Part 2

The paper is devoted to the activities of Russian officers and envoys of the St. Petersburg government during the reign of Bishop Petar II Petrović Njegoš in Montenegro. Their arrival in Cetinje at that time was of great importance not only for strengthening Montenegrin-Russian relations, but also for settling the internal and external situation in Montenegro. The appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Jakov Nikolajevich Ozereckovski took place immediately after Njegoš’s second visit to the Russian capital. Ozereckovski’s tasks were to study the social and economic situation in Montenegro as comprehensively as possible, as well as to contribute to the state reforms of Petar II Njegoš. Based on his reports, the Russian government decided to send a new envoy to Montenegro, a young captain and mining engineer Yegor Petrovich Kovaljevski. Although he failed to find the alleged traces of gold in the river Zlatica, Kovaljevski nevertheless unexpectedly found himself in the role of a talented negotiator during the Montenegrin-Austrian border dispute, and his actions contributed to the successful resolution of the conflict.