Nikolay Leskov

Nikolay Leskov (1831, Oryol Governorate, Russian Empire  – 1896, St Petersburg, Russian Empire) – a writer and human rights fighter. He promoted the establishment of Riga Oldbeliviers School.

In 1863 by the arrangement of the Minister of Education, the famous Russian writer Nikolay Leskov visited Riga. The purpose of his visit was to study the state of public education among the Old Believers. In Riga there had been a school for the children of Old Believers since the late 18th Century. After the state policy regarding Old Believers had become stricter in 1833 the school was closed. Nikolay Leskov helped to restore education for Old Believers – in 1873 the Riga Grebenshchikov school was opened.