On March 28, 1922, Russian officer and writer Pyotr Shabelsky-Bork and Russian journalist Sergey Taboritsky unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate the Russian liberal politician Pavel Milyukov.[1]
| Attempted assassination of Pavel Milyukov | |
|---|---|
 Pavel Milyukov in 1916 | |
| Location | Berlin, Germany |
| Date | March 28, 1922 8:30 am – 10:00 am |
| Target | Pavel Milyukov |
Attack type | Assassination, mass shooting. |
| Weapons | Revolvers |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Injured | 9 |
| Perpetrators | Pyotr Shabelsky-Bork, Sergey Taboritsky |
| Motive | Political |
| Convicted | Pyotr Shabelsky-Bork Sergey Taboritsky |
| Convictions | Pyotr Shabelsky-Bork: (12 years of hard labor, 5 years served) Sergey Taboritsky: (14 years of hard labor, 5 years served) |
Background
Shabelsky-Bork had 2 revolvers and Taboritsky had purchased a revolver at an unknown date. They both had taken a large dose of an unknown drug on the day of the shooting.[1]
Shooting
Shabelsky-Bork and Taboritsky arrived at one of Milyukov's lectures at the stadium after driving from Munich to Berlin.[1] They entered and sat in the third row, eventually Shabelsky-Bork stood up and opened fire at Milyukov.[1] Dr. Asnes, who was next to Milyukov, threw him to the ground in an effort to save him from the bullets.[1] Shabelsky-Bork and Taboritsky then proceeded to jump onto the stage, continuing to fire at Milyukov.[1] Russian criminologist, journalist and progressive statesman, Vladimir Dmitrievich Nabokov who was at the scene attacked Shabelsky-Bork, hitting him in the hand in an attempt to disarm him.[1] Taboritsky then fired 3 rounds at point-blank range toward Nabokov with only 1 round hitting. The bullet pierced Nabokov's chest hitting him in the heart, killing him instantly.[1] They then began indiscriminately firing into the crowd injuring 9 people.[1] Taboritsky then calmly walked off, changed his outfit to disguise himself and tried to leave but he was seen by a woman who yelled "Here's the killer!"[1] The crowd outnumbered them and they were detained under citizen's arrest. The police then arrived arresting them both.[1]
Trial
The trial took place on July 3–7, 1922 in Berlin Criminal Court in Moabit. Taboritsky claimed that he did not shoot and said that Shabelsky-Bork had killed Nabokov although it was determined by witnesses that Taboritsky had shot Nabokov.[1] Taboritsky was sentenced to 14 years of hard labor for "intentionally causing Nabokov serious injuries that caused his death" and Shabelsky-Bork was sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for attempted murder. However, both men only served five years, being released in the spring of 1927.[1]
Motive
Shabelsky-Bork and Taboritsky were both supporters of the Nazi Party and were against Milyukov's liberal beliefs.[1]