Middle East 573
MID#2826
Dispute Number: 2826
Date(s): May 7, 1987
Participants: 365 Russia/630 Iran
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Iran attacked a Soviet-flagged ship.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from April 21, 1987. End Date changed from
November 2, 1987.
365 RUSSIA/640 TURKEY
MID#142
Dispute Number: 142
Date(s): July 1821 to August 10, 1821
Participants: 365 Russia/640 Turkey
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: In this particular occasion, the Sultan interpreted a May 1821 joint state-
ment from Russia, Prussia, and Austria that denounced revolutionary principles as
a blank check for the Sultan to exercise more authority over Christian subjects in
Ottoman-controlled areas. This treatment of Orthodox subjects—namely, the trouble-
some Greeks—irked Russia, which considered itself the guardian of the Orthodoxy
and its various ethnic constituents.
Russia presented the Turks a note condemning the recent treatment of ethnic
minorities in the Ottoman Empire and demanded that the Sultan pay restitution for
the damaged churches and cease harassment of its ethnic minorities. Turkey refused,
and Russia severed relations with Constantinople, withdrawing its minister to Odessa.
Relations appeared to remain severed between the Turks and Russians for some time
thereafter. It was only until mediation from Britain’s George Canning that the Turks
were induced into mollifying their stance in order to avoid what looked to be an inevi-
table war between both states. This occurred in 1823.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from July 18, 1821.
MID#64
Dispute Number: 64
Date(s): April 5, 1826
Participants: 365 Russia/640 Turkey
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side B (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Though not long into his reign as czar of Russia, Nicholas I had troops
amassed at the Prut River. He threatened to cross, citing dissatisfaction with Otto-
man efforts to abide by the Treaty of Bucharest regarding Christians in Serbia. The