Alexander Soloviev (revolutionary)

Alexander Soloviev (Александр Соловьёв), (1846 in Luga – May 28, 1879), was a former student who unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate Tsar Alexander II of Russia with a revolver.

On the morning of 20 April 1879, Alexander II was briskly walking towards the Square of the Guards Staff and faced Soloviev. Having seen a menacing revolver in his hands, the Tsar fled. Soloviev fired five times but missed, and was sentenced to death. Soloviev was hanged on 28 May 1879 (in Julian calendar; June 9, 1879 in Gregorian calendar). Soloviev had acted on his own, but other revolutionaries were keen to murder Alexander, and there were several assassination attempts following this.