V. I.

Lenin

453

To:   THE MOSCOW REVOLUTIONARY TRIBUNAL

Under a decision of the Moscow Cheka Collegium, a case of red tape at the People’s Commissariat for Food (the case
of Yakov Stepanovich Artyukhov) was referred to you. [1]

Please have this important case tried as soon as possible and let me know the judgement.

V. Ulyanov (Lenin )

Chairman, Council of People’s Commissars

P.S. It is of exceptional importance—both from the
Party and the political standpoint—especially in pursuance
of the decision of the Eighth Congress of
Soviets, [2] to have the proceedings in the red tape case arranged with the
greatest solemnity, making the trial educational , and the
sentence sufficiently impressive.

Lenin

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Notes:
[1]
At the end of July, Y. S. Artyukhov, Head of the Planning
Sub-Department of the Procurement Administration of the People’s

Commissariat for Food, was sent a petition requesting a reduction
of the tax in kind in two volosts of Novokamenka Uyezd, Moscow
Gubernia, which had suffered from a fall of hail. Artyukhov did
nothing about the petition until October 1921.

[2]
Having discussed the question of improving the work of Soviet
organs in the centre and in the localities, and the struggle against
red tape, the Eighth Congress of Soviets (December 22–29, 1920)
adopted a comprehensive decision on Soviet government organisation.