Ippolit Giliarovsky

Ippolit Giliarovsky (18 August 1865 – 27 June 1905) was the second in command as a frigate captain of the battleship Potemkin during the mutiny.

A strict disciplinarian, Giliarovsky routinely brutalised sailors under his command, punching one of them in the face for not knowing his name.

Giliarovsky was made the executive officer on the Potemkin, a position which he interpreted as requiring spying on the crew and searching them regularly, along with administering punishment.

Captain Evgeny Golikov (ru) actually complained to his superiors that Giliarovsky was too harsh.

The ship's marine guards (armed sailors) were called while the ordinary crewmen scattered.

The wounded mutineer wrestled the rifle from Giliarovsky before being shot in the back by a petty officer.

Giliarovsky ordered the marine guards to shoot but they dispersed into the chaotic crowd on deck.

The surviving officers were eventually put ashore except for three who for varying reasons chose to remain with the ship.

Hough argues that Giliarovsky took reasonable action to maintain order and discipline after the captain's weak response to the crew's refusal to eat the borscht.

Giliarovsky's initial threat to shoot crew members was a bluff that exceeded his formal authority.

When the majority of the crew under the leadership of Matushenko again refused to obey orders and became threatening, Giliarovsky felt compelled to try to carry through on his threat.