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From the transcript of the December plenum of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks in 1936.

From Comrade Rykov's speech. December 4, 1936

Questions of History, 1995, No. 1 Pages. 8

Rykov. This same Sokolnikov said, accused me, that some kind of radio stations had been prepared in Leningrad. After all, this is a tragedy. You can interrogate, check, take people from these stations, find out what kind of people they are. After all, this is such a wild nightmarish thing.

Stalin. Com. Rykov, it means that you didn’t know anything and had no idea that they were preparing something like that. They themselves did not take part, but guessed?

Rykov. No, they didn't suspect one iota. After all, I was away. (Molotov. There was an assassination of Kirov.)

Stalin. You see, after the confrontation between Bukharin and Sokolnikov, we formed the opinion that there were no grounds for bringing you and Bukharin to trial. But we still have doubts about the party character. It seemed to us that both you and Tomsky, of course, maybe Bukharin, could not help but know that these bastards were preparing some kind of dirty deed, but we were not told. (Voices from the localities. Fact.)

Bukharin. Well, comrades, you are not ashamed.

Stalin. I say that it was only because it seemed to us that this was not enough in order to; take you to court.

Bukharin. Com. Stalin, but true or not, as soon as I accidentally found out about this case, I immediately, being in the middle of nowhere, got on a plane, sent you a telegram, comrade Stalin 6. I considered it quite elementary that if I was slandered, then they would give me a confrontation. (Stalin. I said, don't touch Bukharin, wait.) I think this way: judge by the results. But I want to make it absolutely right. It was said to you that everything must be investigated in terms of accusatory facts. I was a few hours late, why couldn't they have waited a bit to arrange a face-to-face confrontation. (Stalin. Is Kulikov also a member of your group?) I haven't seen Kulikov for 10 years. (Stalin. You can check his testimony. There are testimony from Kulikov, Uglanov and Sosnovsky.) Sosnovsky was arrested now, but I say at that time. (Stalin. They didn't want to bring you to trial, they spared you, it's your fault, they spared you.) Then you didn't even arrange a confrontation with these potential scoundrels. This is not about mercy. I raise the question of the rights of political honor. (Stalin. I'm sorry, I interrupted.

Rykov. I affirm that I saw Kamenev and never spoke of political questions...

Note:

6. On July 5, 1936, the Politburo of the Central Committee decided to grant Bukharin a month and a half leave. At the beginning of August 1936, Bukharin went on vacation to the Pamirs. After reading in the newspaper the testimony of Kamenev and other defendants at the trial, on August 24 Bukharin sent the following telegram from Tashkent: “The Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks to Comrade Stalin. Just read the slanderous testimony of scoundrels. Outraged to the core. I fly out of Tashkent by plane 25 in the morning. Please excuse this violation. 24/VIII Bukharin. (APRF, f. 3, op. 24, file 235, sheet 118).