Benkovskii, Georgi

(pseudonym of Gavril Khlytev). Born between 1841 and 1844, in the town of Koprivshtitsa; died May 12, 1876, at the village of Ribaritsa, near the town of Teteven. Bulgarian revolutionary democrat. One of the leaders of the April Uprising of 1876. A follower of V. Levski and Kh. Botev.

As an “apostle” (agitator) of the Giurgiu revolutionary committee Benkovskii was sent to the Plovdiv district to prepare for the uprising. In April 1876 he headed the national liberation rebellion in Panagiurishte. The cavalry detachment led by Benkovskii, the so-called flying detachment, was the largest unit of the rebels in that region. Benkovskii was killed during the suppression of the revolt.