Michaelis Evgeny Petrovich (26.09.1841 – 02.12.1913) — a scholar, local historian, editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Semipalatinsk Regional News," and a close friend of Abai Kunanbayev.

Evgeny Petrovich Michaelis was born on September 26, 1841, in St. Petersburg. Raised in a revolutionary environment, E.P. Michaelis first studied at a gymnasium and then at a lyceum, where he was one of the top students. Highly attentive and quick-witted, Michaelis entered St. Petersburg University, studying in the natural sciences department of the physics and mathematics faculty. He was one of the active representatives of the revolutionary movement among students, led by N.G. Chernyshevsky.

Michaelis led a secret organization of revolutionary students and actively promoted Chernyshevsky's ideas among students, inspiring many young people to follow him. The well-known historical figure N.V. Shelgunov wrote about him: "Michaelis grew up as a wonderful young man, a noble citizen. From his open and cheerful face, one could sense the majesty of a lion, thick strength, and indomitable spirit."

Their political views were deemed anti-government by the tsarist regime, leading to the arrest and exile of over 200 students. Among them was E.P. Michaelis, who spent six years in exile in the city of Tartu, Tobolsk province. He was later exiled to the city of Semey, where he was allowed to work.

From this point on, the passionate revolutionary-democrat's exemplary life in the city of Semey began, and his acquaintance with the great Abai continued. Abai and the Russian intellectual met at the public library, exchanging ideas and confiding in each other. Prominent figures such as Petrashevsky and Durov, who were also exiled from Russia, were present in Semey.

After arriving in Semey, Michaelis actively engaged in studying the vast region's nature and resources and developing cultural and educational activities. In 1878, he organized the establishment of the provincial statistics committee in Semey. This committee, created under his leadership, was the first scientific institution to study the nature, economy, history, and culture of the Semey region. E.P. Michaelis himself was the first secretary of this committee.

In 1883, he also contributed to the organization of the public library and the local history museum. His close friend Abai Kunanbayev was also actively involved in the work of these scientific and cultural-educational institutions. The scholarly research works of the deeply knowledgeable scientist Michaelis were extensive. He studied the issue of steamboat navigation on the Irtysh River, traveled from Semey to Zaysan, created a navigational map, identified which steamboats could operate, and constructed their models by hand.

E.P. Michaelis spent 44 years of his life in the cities of Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk. Of those, 13 years, from 1869 to 1882, were spent in the city of Semey. He passed away on December 2, 1913, at the age of 72 in the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk.