To Stalin

To Stalin Top Secret Summaries Of The most important testimonies Of Those arrested 1937‐ 1938

A summary of the most important testimonies of those arrested by the GUGB of the NKVD of the USSR for April 3, 1938

Archive: AP RF. F. 3. Op. 24. D. 407. L. 75‐88.

April 3, 1938

SECRETARY of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b) comrade STALIN

I am sending you a summary of the most important testimonies of those arrested by the GUGB NKVD of the USSR for April 3, 1938.

Peopleʹs Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR Peopleʹs Commissar for

State Security (EZHOV)

Top secret

For the 3rd DEPARTMENT

1. LF PECHERSKY, born in 1885, a member of the CPSU (b) since 1917, from 1903 to 1910 he was a member of the RSDLP (minor), from 1910 to 1917 Mezhdrayonets, former Chairman of ʺExportlenʺ. He was not working at the time of his arrest. Interrogated: COGENMAN.

He showed that he had been associated with TROTSKY since 1921, in 1930‐1931. while working at the Trade Representation of the USSR in Berlin, he was associated with the Trotskyists and rightists who worked at the Trade Representation, LYUBIMOV, LEVIN, VESNIK, BESSONOV and a friend.

PECHERSKY testified that in 1934, being the chairman of Exportlen, he sold 68,000 tons of flax to foreign companies deliberately at low prices. As a result of this destructive act, the Soviet Union suffered damage in the amount of 1 million rubles in gold.

PECHERSKY deliberately imported an excessive amount of flax into the Murmansk and Leningrad ports with insufficient provision of storage facilities. As a result, flax deteriorated and unnecessary amounts were spent on its processing.

In 1936‐1937. PECHERSKY, under the directive of KANDELAKI and FRIEDRICHSON, sold a large contingent of flax to Germany instead of selling it to other countries, thereby assisting Nazi Germany in the development of equipment and military materials made from flax.

Along with sabotage, PECHERSKY was engaged in espionage activities. So, from 1933 to 1936, he transferred a number of espionage information to the French firm ʺDurantʺ, having received 10,000 francs from it. Personally, PECHERSKY recruited into an anti‐Soviet organization the former deputy manager of the Leningrad office ʺExportlenʺ GIRSHBERG (arrested), who, on the instructions of PECHERSKY, carried out sabotage work.

PECHERSKY was also connected with ROSENGOLBTS, a member of the anti‐Soviet ʺbloc of Right Trotskyistsʺ in counter‐revolutionary work.

2. LEVINSON , former consultant to the USSR Peopleʹs Commissariat of Justice. Interrogated: CHIZHOV.

He testified that in 1907, being arrested in Moscow for revolutionary activities, he was recruited by the gendarme office, LEVINSON, being aware of the work of the Moscow organization of the RSDLP (b), systematically as an informant, under the nickname ʺStudent Vanyaʺ, informed the secret police about the work of the party ...

In 1906, thanks to materials given by LEVINSON to the secret police, the Samara party organization was ruined.

LEVINSON, working in the Commission of Legislative Proposals under the Council of Peopleʹs Commissars of the USSR, in 1935 was recruited by the Frenchman Maurice Leblanc for espionage work in favor of France. Levinsonʹs espionage work continued until 1937. During this time, LEVINSON handed over to LEBLAN a draft national economic plan for 1936‐37, a number of bills on strengthening the countryʹs defense capability and other classified materials.

3. MANCHEV VM, former chief engineer for insectofungisides [1] of the Scientific Institute of Fertilizers and Insectofungisides of the Glavkhimprom NKTP, a former member of the All‐Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks since 1929. Interrogated: GALKIN.

He confessed that, while working in Germany, in 1923 he joined the ultra‐left trend in the German Communist Party, headed by RUTH FISCHER and MASLOV. Manchev as a Trotskyist took an active part in illegal meetings of the German Trotskyists and carried out Trotskyist work in the German Communist Party.

MANCHEV shows that in 1923, being recruited into German intelligence by an active Trotskyist and an agent of German intelligence OTTO, he, MANCHEV, left for the Soviet Union in 1929 to organize intelligence work on the territory of the USSR.

In the USSR, MANCHEV maintained contact with intelligence agents GUBER and DORNISH (went abroad), transmitted through them spy information about the products and capacities of the Shchelkovo chemical plant and the insectofungiside industry.

In 1934, through an agent of German intelligence GUBER MANCHEV, he establishes contact with MOSKALEV (former secretary of Pyatakov). In 1935, while working at the Scientific Institute of Fertilizers and Insectofungicides, MANCHEV contacted an agent of German intelligence, academician BRITSKE and joined the illegal fascist organization created by the latter on the instructions of the German ruling circles. Informing MANCHEV about the fascist organization, BRITSKE told him that he had a number of new directives from the German intelligence agencies about the need to create leading groups of Germanophilic and fascist‐minded elements that would lead the fascist formations in the Soviet Union. At the same time BRITSKE informed MANCHEV that the center of the national‐fascist organization had already been created. The center includes a number of world‐famous scientists who have been associated with German industrial scientific and intelligence organizations in Germany. In its work, this center is associated with the head of the German government, and on their direct instructions spy, sabotage and insurgent cadres are trained for active operations at the time of the outbreak of war.

He did not tell BRITSKE MANCHEV about the persons who were part of the center of the national‐fascist organization, but only said that in the Scientific Institute of Fertilizers and Insectofungicides, the organization includes PI DUBOV, Scientific Secretary of the Industrial Department of the Academy of Sciences, Professor PESKOV, DRAGUNOV and Researcher of the KAZAKOV Institute (not arrested).

After informing MANCHEV, BRITSKE suggested that he take over the organization of national‐fascist groups at the institute from the instituteʹs scientists, pointing out that the duties of these groups will be the task not only to carry out sabotage work at the institute, but also, if necessary, to carry out individual terrorist or sabotage tasks for the decommissioning of power plants, railway facilities, etc.

4. DOLGOV AN, assistant chief engineer of Glavgidroenergostroy, doctor of technical sciences. Interrogated: SHCHALENSKY.

He testified that in January 1927 he was involved in the activities of the ʺIndustrial Partyʺ by the OSADCHIM (convicted).

In 1927, DOLGOV was a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the National Economy, at the same time holding the elective position of chairman of the All‐Union Association of Engineers (VAI).

Dolgovʹs activities in the ʺIndustrial Partyʺ went along two lines: the first along the line of ʺVAIʺ and the second on the line of the Supreme Council of the National Economy of the USSR.

On the instructions of SEDCHEGO DEBT, committees of the ʺIndustrial Partyʺ were organized in Leningrad, Rostov‐on‐Don, Sverdlovsk, Tashkent and Tomsk, in which he attracted a number of prominent specialists.

The heads of the committees of the ʺIndustrial Partyʺ had a connection with DOLGOVY, which was easily concealed by his position as chairman of the VAI.

At the Supreme Council of the National Economy of the USSR, Dolgov took part in a special meeting on the reproduction of fixed capital, led by Pyatakov. In this meeting, DOLGOV, with a sabotage purpose, carried out guidelines expressed in an underestimation of labor productivity, in an insufficient development of the main industries, etc. For example, when drawing up the plan for the first five‐year plan, DEBT deliberately proved the impossibility and impracticability of the projected indicators of labor productivity.

As a result, the projected figure was reduced in various industries by 15‐20 %. In the plan of the 1st five‐year plan, DOLGOV defended the minimum development of the production of building materials, which did not correspond to the needs of the projected capital construction, as a result of which the plan of the 1st five‐year plan was drawn up with a sharp deficit in the production of basic building materials.

Dolgov showed that in the struggle against Soviet power, a connection was organized between the rightists and the ʺIndustrial Partyʺ.

OSADCHIY gave DOLGOV instructions on the deployment of sabotage work along the line of ʺVAIʺ, indicating that when organizing the committees of the ʺIndustrial Partyʺ it would be necessary to give a direct directive on the active support of the right in their struggle against the party and government.

OSADCHIY told DOLGOV that RYKOV would help them in the work of the Industrial Party. RYKOV DOLGOVʹs help is characterized by the following factor: ʺVAIʺ united, for the most part, engineers of the old formation, among whom there were many supporters of the right. From the end of 1927, the existence of ʺVAIʺ began to provoke attacks from the public, who considered the association of engineers a caste, closed organization. Only thanks to personal support from V.V. RYKOV and SHMIDT. ʺVAIʺ existed until the end of 1929 and was liquidated only when b. The OGPU revealed the participation of a number of prominent members of the ʺVAIʺ in the Shakhty affair and other counter‐revolutionary organizations.

Having organized in Rostov a committee of the ʺIndustrial Partyʺ headed by Professor AKSAMITNY (convicted), DOLGOV informed the former chairman of the North Caucasian Regional Executive Committee PA Bogdanov about this. (convicted), who promised to support the AKSAMITNY.

Since 1931, on the direct instructions of RYKOV, DOLGOV continued to engage in sabotage activities.

Debt indications are primary.

5. IM PEVZNER, former chairman of the Russian Society for the Retail Sale of Petroleum Products in London, recently managing director of Nefteexport. Interrogated by IVANOV and LEBEDEV.

He gave initial testimony that in 1932 he was recruited by the chairman of the Deterding oil concern ʺSHELLʺ in London, editor of the British oil magazine ʺOil Newsʺ SMISOM for espionage activities in favor of ʺSHELLʺ.

PEVZNER was associated with the former. director of the British oil trading company ʺMoonsʺ HAMILTON.

Having received £ 200 for espionage information, PEVZNER passed on to SMIS a number of classified information about the methods of oil refining in the USSR and about the plans for the Soviet production of lubricating oils in 1933 and 1934.

In 1935, Pevzner, being the manager of Nefteexport, was caught by the former Peopleʹs Commissar for Foreign Trade ROSENGOLTS of espionage for the British and on this basis recruited Pevzner into the Trotskyist organization. Pevzner, on the instructions of ROSENGOLTS and SUDYIN, carried out sabotage work at Nefteexport, assisting in the supply of the best Soviet gasoline and fuel oil to the Italian and German maritime ministries at prices below world prices. PEVZNER sent firstclass Soviet gasolines to Italy and Germany as the second grade. He inflicted huge losses on the Soviet Union by illegal payment of fines to foreign ships, by writing off fines from foreign ships that they were obliged to pay to the USSR.

Pevzner entered into sabotage agreements with Sweden and England for the supply of gasoline to them in 1933.

For the 4th DEPARTMENT

1. STOLYAR A.Ya., former 1st secretary of the Sverdlovsk regional committee of the CPSU (b). Interrogated: ZHURBENKO.

In the submitted application addressed to the Peopleʹs Commissar

STOLYAR A.Ya. confessed that since the end of 1933 he had been a member of the counter‐revolutionary organization of the right that existed in the city of Gorky, in which he was involved by PRAMNEK and POGREBINSKY.

The organization appointed its cadres to the most important posts, fought on the ideological front, carried out sabotage in industry and agriculture, organized insurrectionary work and terror against the leaders of the party and government.

In addition to PRAMNEK and POGREBINSKY, OSTROVSKY, LARSKY, BERDICHEVSKAYA, PUGACHEVSKY, GENYAVSKY and YELIN were members of the organization in Gorky.

STOLYAR testified that he, as a member of the organization of the right, carried out sabotage work aimed at disrupting flax growing, crop rotation and disorganization of agricultural planning, especially in the northeastern regions of the region.

STOLYAR also testified that after his election as first secretary of the Kirov regional committee, he, having contacted members of the organization of the right in the city of Kirov, IVANOV ‐ head. OblZU, and DUBINSKY ‐ head. agricultural department of the regional committee continued to carry out sabotage work in the field of agriculture in the Kirov region.

According to the STOLYARʹs testimony, members of the organization of the right in the Kirov region are also: BERMAN ‐ b. secretary of the regional committee of the CPSU (b) in Udmurtia, who recently worked as the 3rd secretary of the Sverdlovsk regional committee of the CPSU (b), ABUGOV, KOZLENKO ‐ former. secretary of the Votkinsk party organization, VYAZANKIN ‐ b. head press department of the regional committee.

Upon his arrival in Sverdlovsk, STOLYAR pursued the same line of retaining enemy cadres in the field, continuing KABAKOVʹs wrecking line in party work. Working in the Sverdlovsk region, STOLYAR carried out sabotage in agriculture, as a result of which he was in a serious condition. Wrecking work in the Sverdlovsk region was carried out by: KURKIN ‐ head. the agricultural department of the regional committee of the CPSU (b), and Teslya ‐ head. OblZU.

2. KHODOROVSKY, former head of the Kremlinʹs

Sanupra. Interrogated: GERZON.

KHODOROVSKY confessed that since 1928 he has been a member of the anti‐Soviet organization of the right, in which Rykov was involved.

KHODOROVSKY testified that, as a trade representative in Italy, he contacted Italian intelligence through an acquaintance of the CECA journalist for the Stampa newspaper and passed on espionage materials to Italian intelligence, and also followed instructions on sabotage when concluding trade agreements.

After moving to work as a trade representative in Turkey, KHODOROVSKY contacted the Italian intelligence resident KOHOM, on whose instructions he delayed the conclusion of a trade agreement between the USSR and Turkey.

After returning to the Soviet Union and being appointed to work in the Scientific Committee of the Council of Peopleʹs Commissars of the USSR, KHODOROVSKY, at the direction of Rykov, created a group of rightists there and launched sabotage work.

In 1934, having moved to work in the Kremlin Sanitary and Epidemiological Service, KHODOROVSKY, at the direction of RYKOV, contacted KAMINSKY, DOCTOR LEVIN, DOCTOR TAITS on anti‐

Soviet work and was aware of LEVINʹs terrorist activities.

In 1935, Italian intelligence re‐established contact with KHODOROVSKI through the secretary of the Italian embassy.

3. AMOSOV MK, prior to his arrest, 1st Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of

Kyrgyzstan. Interrogated: MATEVOSOV.

AMOSOV confessed that he was one of the organizers of the anti‐Soviet nationalist organization in Yakutia, which set itself the task of severing the Yakut SSR from the Soviet Union under the protectorate of Japan.

Among the active participants in the organization AMOSOV named:

BARAKHOV (arrested), VINOKUROV, ARZHAKOV ‐ now before. Council of Peopleʹs Commissars of Yakutia, OYUNSKY (arrested), BAYAROVA (arrested), DONSKOGO (arrested),

SHIROKIKH, LEONTIEV, SAFRONOV, SIVTSEV, GAVRILIEV (arrested) and KSENOFONTOVA are workers in Yakutia.

AMOSOV admitted that after leaving Yakutia in 1928, he kept in touch with an anti‐Soviet nationalist organization until recently.

AMOSOV further testified that in 1934 he was contacted by RYSKULOV, who guided him about the existence of an anti‐Soviet organization of the Rights under the leadership of BUKHARIN and RYKOV, about the presence in Kazakhstan of an anti‐Soviet nationalist organization associated with the Rights, and instructed him to contact the leaders of the latter, KULUMBETOV and ESKARAYEV (arrested). RYSKULOV also guided AMOSOV about the right‐wing attitudes towards terror, sabotage, subversion and insurgency.

Upon arrival in Kyrgyzstan at the beginning of 1937, AMOSOV continued his anti‐Soviet activities and contacted the leaders of a nationalist organization in Kyrgyzstan (which took the name of the Social‐Turanian Party) represented by ISAKEEV (arrested), JAEMATIEV, ALIEV (arrested), ESENOMANOV, SHCHERBAKOV.

4. YA BREZANOVSKY, former head of the personnel sector of the USSR Peopleʹs Commissariat for Food Industry. Interrogated: SERGIENKO.

BREZANOVSKY admitted that in 1920, while working at the headquarters of the Southwestern Front, he was a participant in the anti‐Soviet Trotskyist conspiracy, in which Egorov, the front commander, SEREBRYAKOV, POSTNIKOV, BERZIN, RAKOVSKY, MANTSEV, also took part. The inspiration and organizer of the counter‐revolutionary conspiracy is TROTSKY.

The conspirators were preparing the physical destruction of comrade STALIN in order to thwart the execution of the nominated comrade. STALIN a master plan for the defeat of the White Guard hordes.

5. KRYLENKO NV, former Peopleʹs Commissar of Justice of the USSR. Interrogated: GERZON.

He showed that from the first years of the revolution he was connected by anti‐Soviet work with BUKHARIN, PREOBRAZHENSKY and PYATAKOV.

In 1922, KRYLENKO received instructions from BUKHARIN during the trial of the Right Socialist‐Revolutionaries to hide the connection of the accused Right Socialist‐Revolutionaries with the Left Communists and TROTSKY and KAMENEV, which he (KRYLENKO) did.

From BUKHARIN and PREOBRAZHENSKY, he knew about the existence of an anti‐Soviet bloc, which included the rightists, Zinovievites, Trotskyists and representatives of anti‐Soviet parties ‐ Mensheviks and Socialist‐Revolutionaries, the latter being represented in the bloc by RYAZANOV.

KRYLENKO testifies that the assistant is a member of the organization. prosecutor F.E. NORINA (former Bund member).

6. DERIBAS ETC. Interrogated: GATOV.

During further interrogations, DERIBAS testified that in addition to AGRANOV, RESHETOV, GELFER, ZAPOROZHETS and ALEKSEEV, the Socialist‐Revolutionary group in the Secret‐Political Department included GORB and the well‐known Left Socialist‐Revolutionary, who had participated in the murder of MIRBAKH BLUMKIN.

The anti‐Soviet activity of the SR group in the STR was mainly aimed at preserving the illegal SR organization in the Union and creating conditions for it to work. AGRANOV, conducting an investigation into the case of the Central Committee of Right Socialist Revolutionaries, in order to hide from the court a number of important circumstances, such as: the belonging of a member of the Central Committee of the UDGOF to the Polish defensive and a member of the Central Committee of the Left Socialist Revolutionaries SHREIDER to the royal guard, went into direct conspiracy with a number of members of the Central Committee of the AKP, who were on the process to responsibility.

In addition, in the course of the trial, with the knowledge and consent of AGRANOV, in order to avoid exposing the conspiratorial activities of the Right and Left Socialist Revolutionaries and the Left Communists, a member of the AKP Central Committee (the only working Chekist) MOROZOV was killed. party and left communists, in particular BUKHARIN. The murder was committed by faking a suicide in a cell.

After the expulsion of TROTSKY in 1929, BLUMKIN, on the instructions of AGRANOV, contacted TROTSKY. With this connection, the task was set to provide TROTSKY with the opportunity to widely use the Soviet intelligence apparatus to fight the Soviet power, but in connection with the failure of BLUMKIN (his wife betrayed him), BLUMKIN was forced to arrest, and, in order to avoid the failure of the entire organization and exposure of the activities of AGRANOV, DERIBAS, RESHETOV and other BLUMKINS, no investigation was carried out in his case, and the latter, on the very day after his arrest, was shot by the decision of the OGPU Collegium.

Head of the Secretariat of the NKVD of the USSR, senior major of state security (SHAPIRO)