Everyone knows about the Decembrist uprising on Senate Square, but without a historical episode in early January 1926, the picture of the rebellion would be incomplete.
Among the executed Decembrists were S. Muravyov-Apostol and M. Bestuzhev-Ryumin. It was they who raised the rebellion of the Chernigov Regiment at the very end of December 1825. But few people know that on the gallows, which served as the place of execution, a tablet with the names of three more participants in the rebellion was nailed. Among them is Anastasiy Kuzmin.
What is known about Kuzmin
The biography of Anastasiy Dmitrievich is not known for certain, there is not even a date of birth. Whether he had a family, who his wife was, how the personal life of a brave officer was taking shape - history did not preserve information. And he is known as the ideological inspirer of the soldiers of the Chernigov regiment, a fiery bearer of the ideas of good, justice and patriotism.
Kuzmin received his education, like most officers of that time, in the cadet corps, after which he was enlisted as an ensign in the regiment. Five years later, as expected under the Charter, he was promoted to lieutenant. At the time of historical operations, he was the commander of the 5th musketeer company of the Chernigov Infantry Regiment.
Rise of the Chernigov Regiment
Being a supporter of active revolutionary actions, Kuzmin even in the summer, before the start of the historical rebellion, accepted attempts to raise his propagandized company to rebellion. But he was dissuaded.
The news of the failure of the December uprising on Senate Square reached the members of the Southern Society only by the end of the year. The regiment commander ordered the arrest of the most significant member of society - Sergei Muravyov-Apostol. Anastasiy Kuzmin, together with other officers, is making a successful attempt to free his commander. The same evening, the soldiers read the "Orthodox Kakhetisis" compiled by Muravyov in collaboration with Matvey Bestuzhev-Rumin. This revolutionary proclamation spoke about the imminent cessation of the regime of autocracy in Russia and the willingness to die voluntarily for the ideas of goodness, justice and the glory of a revived society.
The very next day, December 29, Muravyov led the rebel regiment first in the direction of Zhytomyr, then in the direction of the White Church, taking all the precautions not to run into regular troops, already sworn in to the new emperor. But the collision could not be avoided, and in the battle near Ustimovka the regiment was utterly defeated, officers were arrested.
