This tag was created by Olive Coles. The last update was by Kelly O'Neill.

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Investigators

These men had the unenviable task of separating rumor from fact, guilt from innocence, melon from watermelon.

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Who's Who in the Infamous Watermelon Rebellion Kelly O'Neill
Contents of this tag:

Contents of this tag:

Iosif "The Protege" Khorvat The lieutenant general is a key figure in this story. Ruler of Ekaterinoslav Governorate, Iosif Ivanovich assists Mordvinov in the investigation, interrogating the accused, while also circulating false information about unrest on the streets of Kherson. Despite his tendency to fall for whispers of unrest, he ultimately concludes that the events of August 1796 were nothing more than a rabble rousing. Khorvat was 46 at the time of the watermelon rebellion. Oh, and did we mention he was married to Zubov's sister and a protege of the prince?
Nikolay "The Judge" Mordvinov Nikolay Semyonovich is the man in charge of the Black Sea Admiralty in the 1790s. Conducts the main investigation into the "watermelon rebellion" with Khorvat and is faced with sorting through a number of misleading reports. Mordvinov leads the interrogation of all accused, and ultimately concludes that there has been no rebellion, no bunt, no treasonous behavior, no audacious disturbance, no rioting against Catherine, and no rioting against her claim to rule.
Pyotr "Have My Cake and Eat it Too" Yakovlev A lieutenant colonel whose interest in protecting stability in Kherson is tied to his role as timber provisioner of the naval shipyards. Prince Zubov's man-on-the-ground, Yakovlev is first to be informed of an impending disturbance by Police Chief Volkov. Requests troops to maintain order and is up to his knees in the subsequent investigation. Guilty of fabricating portions of the story and spreading misinformation. Large sums of money pass through his hands and Mordvinov suspects him of being a spy.