Mauritius Inaugurates Monument to Russian Sailors in the Indian Ocean
Mauritius Inaugurates Monument to Russian Sailors in the Indian Ocean
A new monument was installed marking the “symbol of the first appearance of the Russian flag in the Indian Ocean.”
The sailors arrived in 1857 aboard the corvette Olivoutsa, which made an unplanned stop due to an outbreak of disease on board. Despite medical care, six crew members died and were buried on the island.
The Russian ambassador to Mauritius Irada Zeynalova described the story as a display of “incredible courage and strength of spirit” during the inauguration ceremony held on Saturday at the Western Cemetery in Port Louis.
Extensive archival research was carried out to identify the exact burial site of the sailors, making the project possible. The initiative helped bring together the whole island community, including both Russian compatriots and locals, Zeynalova said.
A small memorial museum is being established at the Russian Embassy, dedicated not only to the corvette Olivoutsa but also to the broader history of Russian navigation in the Indian and Pacific oceans, she added.
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