Andrei
Zhelyabov, the son of a serf, was born in the Crimea in 1850. After
attending school in Kerch he was admitted to the University of Odessa.
Zhelyabov became involved in politics and in 1871 he was expelled
from the university.
He
was arrested three times in 1874 but was released without charge.
He was put on trial in 1878 but was acquitted.
Zhelyabov
joined the the
People's Will and took part in three attempts
on the life of Alexander II. Along
with his lover, Sophia Perovskaya,
he organized the assassination of the Tsar on 1st March, 1881. Others
involved in the plot included Gesia Gelfman,
Nikolai Sablin, Ignatei
Grinevitski, Nikolai Kibalchich,
Nikolai Rysakov and Timofei
Mikhailov.
Ignatei
Grinevitski was killed during the assassination, whereas Nikolai
Sablin committed suicide before he could be arrested. Andrei
Zhelyabov,
Sophia Perovskaya, Nikolai
Kibalchich, Nikolai Rysakov and
Timofei Mikhailov were hanged on
3rd April, 1881.
Andrei
Zhelyabov, Sophia Perovskaya,
Nikolai Kibalchich, Timofei
Mikhailov
and Nikolai Rysakov being executed
on 3rd April, 1881.
