English: Political cartoon in Bobârnacul, the Romanian satirical newspaper. The giant, tattered, figure at the center of the image is Iorgu Serdaru (aka Sărdariu), a gallant outlaw who had made a mockery of Romania's law enforcement; in August 1878, Serdaru escaped custody and fled over the border. Bobârnacul links this incident with the Oriental Question, i.e. the issue of Ottoman retreat from the northern Balkans. Here, Serdaru leaps over into (recently emancipated) Bosnia, portrayed as a bandit haven. Among the Bosnian rebels cheering him on is their instigator, a Russian. He presents Serdaru with rifles and rubles.
The cartoon was published under the title BANDITUL SERDARU, LIBERAT DE EL INSUSI ("BANDIT SERDARU, FREED OF HIMSELF" or "... BY HIMSELF"). Its caption had Serdaru saying: Adio Romănie, eŭ te părăsesc, căcĭ la tine talentele mele nu sunt preţuite. Aicĭ însă voiŭ fi priimit cu braţele deschise, şi talentele mele vor avea valóre, între fraţiĭ meĭ de meserie ("Farewell Romania, I am leaving you, as you fail to reward my talents. Whereas here [in Bosnia] I shall be welcomed with open arms, and my talents shall be treasured, amid my brothers of the trade").
The cartoon presumably hints at animosities between the Russian Empire, who attempted to control the Balkan region, and Romania. The two countries had fought together in the previous war against the Ottoman Empire, but mistrusted each other and were separated by bitter territorial disputes. Serdaru did in fact evade into the Balkans, and then to Russia, being extradited to Romania in July 1882. See Gabriel Constantinescu, "Mihai Eminescu, captivat de vestitul bandit Iorgu Serdaru" (online version of a Historia magazine print).