<P> The Ottomans restarted hostilities in the Russo - Turkish War of 1787--92 . This war was another catastrophe for the Ottomans, ending with the Treaty of Jassy (1792), which legitimised the Russian claim to the Crimea and granted the Yedisan region to Russia . </P> <P> In the Treaty of Georgievsk (1783) Russia agreed to protect Georgia against any new invasion and further political aspirations of their Persian suzerains . Catherine waged a new war against Persia in 1796 after they, under the new king Agha Mohammad Khan, had again invaded Georgia and established rule in 1795 and had expelled the newly established Russian garrisons in the Caucasus . The ultimate goal for the Russian government, however, was to topple the anti-Russian shah (king), and to replace him with a half - brother, Morteza Qoli Khan, who had defected to Russia and was therefore pro-Russian . </P> <P> It was widely expected that a 13,000 - strong Russian corps would be led by the seasoned general, Ivan Gudovich, but the Empress followed the advice of her lover, Prince Zubov, and entrusted the command to his youthful brother, Count Valerian Zubov . The Russian troops set out from Kizlyar in April 1796 and stormed the key fortress of Derbent on 10 May . The event was glorified by the court poet Derzhavin in his famous ode; he later commented bitterly on Zubov's inglorious return from the expedition in another remarkable poem . </P> <P> By mid-June, Zubov's troops overran without any resistance most of the territory of modern - day Azerbaijan, including three principal cities--Baku, Shemakha, and Ganja . By November, they were stationed at the confluence of the Araks and Kura Rivers, poised to attack mainland Iran . In that month, the Empress of Russia died and her successor Paul, who detested that the Zubov's had other plans for the army, ordered the troops to retreat to Russia . This reversal aroused the frustration and enmity of the powerful Zubovs and other officers who took part in the campaign: many of them would be among the conspirators who arranged Paul's murder five years later . </P>

Who was elected leader of russia in 2000 and soon became the symbol of a new and stronger russia