Allegiance Russian Empire | Died 1883, Madeira, Portugal Name Aleksandr Burago Rank Captain, Colonel | |
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Native name aleksandr Petrovich Burago Buried at Alexander Nevsky Lavra, Saint Petersburg Battles/wars Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) Awards Order of St. George (4th deg.) Place of burial Alexander Nevsky Lavra, Saint Petersburg, Russia People also search for Grigol Orbeliani, Prince David of Georgia | ||
Service/branch Imperial Russian Army Battles and wars Russo-Turkish War | ||
Aleksandr Petrovich Burago (Russian: Александр Петрович Бураго) was an officer of the Russian Imperial army. Serving as a captain under Joseph Vladimirovich Gourko, he commanded the force that liberated Plovdiv from the Ottoman rule on 16 January 1878. Later on Burago became a colonel. He died of tuberculosis at the age of 30, in 1883, on Madeira, and was buried in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in Saint Petersburg.
In recognition of his "excellence demonstrated in the battle ... whereupon, together with a squadron of dragoons, having crossed the Maritsa river ... entered the city, still occupied by the Turkish division ... an almost 25 times greater in numbers enemy force", Burago was awarded the Order of St. George of the 4th degree.
Citizens of Plovdiv traditionally honour captain Burago annually on January 16, the anniversary of the liberation of the city. Wreaths and floral tributes are brought to the monument to Burago in the Plovdiv City Garden. A street in Plovdiv was named after captain Burago. In November 2006, along with several other prominent personalities, Aleksandr Burago was, "for exceptional service in development of the city of Plovdiv" posthumously awarded the title of "Honorary citizen of Plovdiv", by decision of the local community council.