Loris-Melikov Mikhail

Loris-Melikov Mikhail (1825–1888), Russian statesman of Armenian descendance, Adjutant General, count member of the Council of State. He was born in Tbilisi, in the family of noblemen. In 1840s he fought against Imam Shamil; in 1877 – 1878, M. Loris-Melikov participated in the Russian-Turkish war, being engaged in the battles on the Caucasian front. In 1879, he was appointed the Governor-General of Astrakhan, Saratov, Samara and Kharkov.

In 1880 in the wake of the terrorist act at the Winter Palace, he was assigned to the post of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Chief of Gendarmery. Along with battling against the revolutionary movement, he endeavored to allay punitive sanctions and mollify the liberalminded segments of society. During his term in the office of the Minister, M. Loris-Melikov submitted the report on economic reforms to Emperor Alexader II. In the wake of Emperor Alexander II’s assassination and issuance of Emperor Alexander III’s Manifesto (on bolstering autocratic rule), Loris-Melikov retired (1881). Thereafter, he mostly lived abroad.

M. Loris-Melikov died in Nice, France.