See also: Kirov

Sergueï Mironovitch Kirov (in Russian: Серге́йМиро́новичКи́ров) (March 15th 1886 = March 27th, 1886 of the new calendar - December 1st 1934) was a revolutionist Bolchevik and Soviet politician. Kirov was a pseudonym, its true name was Russian Kostrikov (: Ко́стриков). Its assassination marks the beginning of the Great Purgings of the Stalinist period in the USSR, at the end from which practically all the “old Bolsheviks”, former fellow travellers of Stalin, politically and are even physically eliminated.

Beginning of career within the Party

Kostrikov was born with Ourjoum, village of Russia, a poor family. It is very early orphan. His/her father Miron Kostrikov dies during his first childhood, followed by his mother the following year. He is then raised by his grandmother before being collected in an orphanage at the seven years age. He undertakes studies of technology, becomes Marxist and adheres in 1904 to the Parti working social democrat Russia (POSDR).

He takes an active share with the fallen through revolution of 1905 with Tomsk with the workmen of the railroads, is stopped then slackened at the end of three months. He joined the Bolshevik fraction of POSDR little time after his coming out of prison. In 1906, it again is arrested and, this time, is imprisoned during more than three years to have published prohibited writings. It takes again its revolutionary activities little time after its release to be again imprisoned, for the same reason. After one year of captivity, it is established in the the Caucasus and remains there until the abdication of Nicolas II.

The leader of the Caucasus then of Leningrad

At that time, Kostrikov changed its name for that of Kirov, its pseudonym of writer, as many activists did it. The name “Kir” pointed out to him that of a chief of Persan warrior, knowing that it is then about to become the chief of the military organization Bolchevik of Astrakhan.

After the Revolution of October, it fights during the civil war until in 1920. In 1921, he becomes the chief of the Communist party in Azerbaïdjan. Member of praesidium of the Caucasian office of the central committee, secretary of the Azerbaijani Communist party, it makes Bakou his stronghold.

Its rise becomes then fulgurating: elected official candidate at the Central committee in X° Congress in 1921, he is member since 1923. Eminent element of its team, Kirov supports Stalin with much honesty by taking an active share with the fight against the oppositions. In 1925, Stalin the met with the head of the powerful organization of Leningrad so that it purifies it oppositional elements, which it does with constancy and effectiveness.

A dangerous popularity within the Central committee

Substitute for the Political office since 1927, Kirov is integrated there in 1930. Two years later, it seems that he takes the head, within the Politburo, of an opposition which, dissatisfied with the seizure of the police machinery on that of the Party, plans to eliminate Stalin from his position of secretary general. At all events, qualities of Kirov, like undoubtedly its strategic options within the apparatus directing, make it very popular in the Party. He is elected with the XVII° Congrès in 1934 one of the four secretaries of the Central committee. He does not receive whereas three negative votes against him contrary to Stalin who obtains 267 from them, the highest number of all the candidates.

It is conceivable that Stalin took shade of this rise to power. It becomes indeed very being wary and sees potential competitors in all his companions of fight at the rate/rhythm of the establishment of its personal capacity. Stalin, can be to test it or to be able best to supervise if it accepts, proposes in Kirov to come to work for him in Moscow. Kirov declines this offer, which makes it very suspect to the eyes of GenSec.

February 1st 1934, a young member of the Communist party named Leonid Nikolaïev assassinates Kirov. Stalin declares that Nikolaïev took part in a conspiracy much broader directed by Zinoviev against the Soviet government. It is the starting point of the great purgings which will not cease until the death of the dictator. He follows in 1936 the arrest and the execution of several marked top-ranking executives to have collaborated there, such as Genrikh Yagoda, Lev Kamenev, Grigory Zinoviev and a very significant number of “old Bolsheviks”, regularly liquidated until the end of the Thirties.

There is the proof today that it is not Stalin which had orchestrated the assassination of Kirov.

See too

• Lawsuit of Moscow