On July 10, a stamp dedicated to the 250th Anniversary of signing of the Treaty of Kuchuk-Kainarji between Russia and Turkey was put into postal circulation in the History of Russian Diplomacy series

The Treaty of Kuchuk-Kainarji was a document marking the end of the Russo-Turkish War, which lasted from 1768 to 1774 and which Russia fought for access to the Black Sea and possession of Crimea. This Treaty between the Russian and Ottoman Empires was concluded on July 10 (21) of 1774 in a camp near the village of Kuchuk-Kainarji (presently in Bulgaria).

According to the Treaty, Crimea and adjacent Tatar regions were recognized as independent; Russia joined the fortresses of Azov, Kerch, Yenikale and Kinburn with the lands between the Dnieper and the Bug; as well as the Greater and Lesser Kabardia (modern the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic); Russian merchant ships received the right to sail freely on the Black Sea and pass through the Black Sea straits; Moldova and Wallachia came under the protectorate of the Russian Empire; Russia received the right to build a church in Constantinople.

In addition, the subjects of the Russian Empire from that time forward could visit Jerusalem and other holy places without any payment. Turkey was obliged to pay Russia 7.5 million piasters (4 million rubles) for military expenses. The whole body of resolutions of the Treaty of Kuchuk-Kainarji strengthened greatly the positions of Russia in the Middle East.

The postage stamp provides an image of a medal commemorating the conclusion of peace with Turkey on July 10, 1774.

In addition to the issue of the postage stamp, JSC Marka produced First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kerch of the Republic of Crimea.


Design Artist: S. Kapranov.
Face value: 100 rubles.
Stamp size: 50×50 mm, sheet size: 170×130 mm.
Emission form: a sheet with formatted margins with 6 (3×2) stamps.
Quantity: 66 thousand stamps (11 thousand sheets).

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