Abstract
This study focuses on the experiences of Ottoman soldiers captured during the 1877–1878 Ot toman-Russian War and aims to examine the concepts of crime, punishment, and the image of the “other” from a micro-historical perspective. The 93 War was not only a military defeat for the Ottoman Empire but also a critical turning point where social and political transfor mations accelerated. The research analyzes the experiences of Ottoman soldiers during and after the war, the attitudes of the Russian public associated with the perception of the “Moskof tyrant,” and the practices of prisoner law during Russia’s modernization process. Based on archival documents and written sources from the period, this analysis evaluates the legal sta tuses, social conditions, cultural impacts on prisoners. The study addresses the conflicts between the two empires within the context of individual experiences, exploring the human aspects of war and the daily lives of prisoners. It aims to evaluate prisoners not only from the Ottoman perspective but also through the eyes of an ordinary Russian citizen. This approach seeks to move beyond the destructive impacts of war, emphasizing the cultural and human dimensions of interactions between Ottoman and Russi an societies.It also reassesses established prejudices, shedding light on how Ottoman-Russian relations reflected at the individual level. The article explores whether prisoners were con sidered “property,” as in Islamic law, “guests,” as in some societies, or “exiles” or “refugees” in political or military terms. It examines the legal, social, and cultural aspects of captivity holistically, analyzing the image of the “other” in Russian perceptions.
Keywords: Osmanlı Devleti, Rus Çarlığı, Esaret, Öteki, Suç ve Ceza.
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