X. COURT AND REVOLUTIONARY LEGALITY
FEBRUARY 12 (JANUARY 30) - DECEMBER 27, 1918
11193
AMENDMENTS TO THE DRAFT DECREE ON THE COURT
[February 12 (January 30), 1918]
On the Court (Decree No. 2)
In development and supplementation of the decree on the court of November 24, 1917, the Council of People's Commissars resolves:

Part Two.
Cassation of Decisions.
§ 4.
Appeals are abolished and only cassation of the decision is permitted.
For the consideration of cassation appeals against decisions of District People's Courts, both in civil and criminal cases, the permanent members of the District People's Courts, at a general meeting of the given region, elect from among themselves the appropriate number of members of the Regional People's Court, who, in turn, elect from among themselves the chairman of the Regional People's Court and the chairmen of departments.
Note: Members of the Regional People's Court, as well as the Supreme Judicial Control, may be recalled both by the Soviets that elected them to the Court and by the Assembly that elected them to the Regional People's Court.

Part Three.
Supreme Judicial Control.
§ 6.
In order to achieve uniformity of cassation practice both of the congresses of local People's Courts and of the Regional People's Courts, a Supreme Judicial Control is established in Petrograd. It is composed of representatives of the Regional People's Courts elected by these Courts for a term not exceeding 1 year with the right of recall, both on the part of the District Courts and on the part of the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers', Peasants' and Cossack Deputies, and of re-election.
In the event of contradictions in the interpretation of laws by various cassation instances, noted by the Supreme Judicial Control, the Supreme Judicial Control issues unifying fundamental decisions, which are accepted by the cassation instances as guidance henceforth. Only legislative organs of Soviet power can repeal decisions of the Supreme Judicial Control.

Part Four.
On Legal Proceedings and Jurisdiction.
§ 8.
Legal proceedings, both in civil and criminal cases, take place according to the rules of the Judicial Statutes of 1864, insofar as they have not been repealed by decrees of the Central Executive Committee of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies and the Council of People's Commissars and do not contradict the [revolutionary sense of justice] sense of justice of the working classes overthrowing the exploiters. In the latter case, the motives for [the Court's deviation from existing laws] the Court's repeal of obsolete or bourgeois legalizations must be indicated in the decisions and verdicts.
• • • • •

Part Seven.
On Accusation and Defense.
§ 24.
All citizens of both sexes enjoying political rights are allowed to participate in the case as accusers and defenders, at the choice of the parties.

AMENDMENTS TO THE DRAFT DECREE ON THE COURT
217
218

§ 25.
A collegium of persons dedicating themselves to advocacy is established at the [Courts] Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies, both in the form of public prosecution and public defense.
[Only persons elected by the [from] Soviets of W., S. and P. Dep.] [may] enter these collegia as professional advocates [or], i.e., taking on accusation and defense in court for a fee (as well as acting on court appointment).
§ 26.
[The named collegia are formed by recording all persons wishing to assist justice and submitting recommendations from the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies.]
Persons elected by the Soviets of W., S. and P. Dep. enter these collegia. Only these persons have the right to appear in court for a fee.
[and as professional advocates and to charge private individuals for their activities.]

Decree on the Court No. 1, issued on November 24, 1918, announced the abolition of the entire judicial system that had existed up to that time and the replacement of a single judge with a collegium of three persons: a people's judge and two alternate jurors. Decree No. 1, which played a major revolutionary role, was not, however, free from a number of shortcomings, for the elimination of which Decree on the Court No. 2, and then No. 3, was issued (see N. V. Krylenko. "The Judicial System of the RSFSR." M. 1924).
The draft decree on the court No. 2, submitted by the Commissariat of Justice (the People's Commissar of Justice was the Left SR I. Z. Steinberg), was discussed at a meeting of the Council of People's Commissars on January 30, 1918, after undergoing preliminary editing by Lenin. Lenin edited the draft on the text of the original, typed on a typewriter. Lenin wrote the amendment to Article 24 of the draft on a separate sheet in two versions, providing it with the heading: "To the Decree on the Court (Amendment)." Lenin crossed out the entire text of the first version of his amendment to Article 24, writing another version of Article 24 after it. Lenin also crossed out the text of Article 25 of the draft, then making corresponding changes to the numbering of the articles of the draft. After a lengthy exchange of views on a number of contentious points, the draft of the People's Commissariat of Justice, with the amendments made, was approved by the Council of People's Commissars and submitted for approval to the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. The decree was published in "Collected Laws and Regulations" No. 26, Article 420 of March 7 (February 22), 1918.

TO THE DECREE ON REVOLUTIONARY TRIBUNALS
TO THE DECREE ON REVOLUTIONARY TRIBUNALS
March 30, 1918 a.
izd.
LETTER TO MEMBERS OF THE COLLEGIUM OF THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF JUSTICE.
To the Members of the Collegium of the People's Commissariat of Justice and a copy to the Chairman of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.
30/III 1918.
The decree on Soviet tribunals, in my opinion, is completely incorrect and should be fundamentally revised*.
It is incorrect to repeal the decree on tribunals of the press without a preliminary summary (and discussion) of the results of their work.
The establishment of the position of a single "tribune" standing outside the collegium of the [People's] Commissariat of Justice is incorrect. It turns out to be something like the worst precedents of the "Procurator General."
Instead of paying attention to the reforms of institutions, to minor or almost verbal reforms ("tribune"), attention should be paid to the practical results of the work of the Justice Collegium in creating a truly revolutionary, swift and mercilessly strict court for counter-revolutionaries, hooligans, loafers and disorganizers.
Lenin.
b.
11306
DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS.
The Council of People's Commissars instructs the Commissariat of Justice to revise the draft decree on tribunals in the direction of eliminating the sole authority of the "tribune" and concentrating the center of gravity not on minor changes in the institutions created since October 1917, but on the practical results of work on the creation of courts that are truly swift and truly revolutionarily merciless to counter-revolutionaries, bribe-takers and disorganizers, and violators of discipline.
Print the revised draft and submit it to the Central Executive Committee.

Lenin is referring to the initial draft decree on revolutionary tribunals, submitted to the Council of People's Commissars for approval on March 30, 1918, by the People's Commissar of Justice I. I. Stuchka. During the discussion of this issue, the Council of People's Commissars adopted a resolution proposed by Lenin (document "b").
220

Revised by the People's Commissariat of Justice on the basis of Lenin's instructions, the draft decree on revolutionary tribunals was discussed and approved for the second time at the session of the Council of People's Commissars on May 4, 1918 (see "Appendix" below).
11433
Appendix.
DECREE ON THE REVOLUTIONARY TRIBUNAL1.
[May 4, 1918]

1. In amendment and supplement to the existing rules on Revolutionary Tribunals, established by the decree on the court of November 24, 1917, for the fight against counter-revolution, sabotage, and speculation, Revolutionary Tribunals shall be retained only in large centers (in capitals, provincial cities, major junction stations, and industrial centers). All other local and army Revolutionary Tribunals shall be abolished, and their cases shall be transferred to the nearest Revolutionary Tribunals.
2. The Revolutionary Tribunals shall also be charged with cases on combating pogroms, bribery, forgery, unlawful use of Soviet documents, hooliganism, and espionage.
3. All cases of a general criminal nature shall be removed from the jurisdiction of the Revolutionary Tribunal and transferred to judicial institutions.
4. The division of Revolutionary Tribunals into Tribunals for combating counter-revolution, for combating speculation, and for press affairs shall be abolished.
5. Alongside the Investigative Commission, a College of Accusers, consisting of at least three persons elected by the local Soviets directly or upon the recommendation of the Revolutionary Tribunal or the People's Commissariat of Justice, shall be established at each Revolutionary Tribunal.
6. The duties of the College of Accusers shall be:
a) Participation, through one of the members of the College, in the meetings of the Investigative Commission of the Revolutionary Tribunal when considering the question of committing to the Revolutionary Tribunal all persons against whom charges have been brought in the Revolutionary Tribunal.
b) Giving opinions to the Investigative Commission on the issue of the jurisdiction of cases and the completeness of the investigation.
c) Proposing to the Investigative Commission to bring charges against a person or group of persons in crimes provided for by the provision on the Revolutionary Tribunal, or containing signs of counter-revolutionary activity.
d) Formulation of accusatory theses in each case in the Investigative Commission when assigning the case for hearing in the Revolutionary Tribunal.
e) Public accusation in all cases in court sessions of the Revolutionary Tribunal.
7. The Investigative Commission of the Revolutionary Tribunal resolves all questions of the investigation in closed sessions.
8. The Investigative Commission of the Revolutionary Tribunal shall communicate its conclusion on committing to the Revolutionary Tribunal in each case

AMENDMENTS TO THE DRAFT PROVISION ON THE REV. TRIBUNAL UNDER THE CEC
or on the termination of the case to the College of Accusers. In the absence of a protest from the accuser within 3 days, the case receives further direction.
9. The completed investigation in each case shall be presented to the accused or his defender, who shall be granted the right to make his comments on the investigation. The question of further direction of the case shall be resolved by the Investigative Commission.
Approved.
Lenin.
1 The document is printed from the original, typed on a typewriter. In paragraph 9, the word "conclusions" has been corrected by Lenin to "comments". The decree on revolutionary tribunals was published in "Izvestia of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee" No. 97 of May 17, 1918.
1шя
AMENDMENTS TO THE DRAFT PROVISION
ON THE REVOLUTIONARY TRIBUNAL UNDER THE CEC
May 22, [1918]
1. For judging cases that will be removed from the jurisdiction of the local Revolutionary Tribunals by resolutions of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee, the Council of People's Commissars, or the People's Commissariat of Justice, an [Extraordinary] Revolutionary Tribunal shall be established under the Central Executive Committee.
2. The Extraordinary Revolutionary Tribunal shall be elected by the Central Executive Committee, consisting of one chairman and six members, for a term of three months. The chairman and members of the Extraordinary Revolutionary Tribunal may be recalled earlier than this term.
3. Sessions of the Extraordinary Revolutionary Tribunal shall be convened by the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee, either on its own initiative or at the proposal of the Council of People's Commissars or the People's Commissariat of Justice.
4. For the purpose of conducting investigations in cases submitted for consideration to the [Extraordinary] Revolutionary Tribunal under the Central Executive Committee, an Investigative Commission shall be established under it, consisting of 3 persons elected by the Central Executive Committee.
5. Under the [Extraordinary] Revolutionary Tribunal, a Central College of Accusers shall be established, consisting of three persons,

ПЛШШСКИН СЬОРИИК
elected by the Central Executive Committee, which, in addition to performing the duties stipulated by the decree of May 4, for the College of Accusers, shall also be responsible for combining and directing the activities of the College of Accusers of the local Revolutionary Tribunals.
6. In its activities, the [Extraordinary] Revolutionary Tribunal under the Central Executive Committee and the institutions under it shall be guided by the existing decrees and general instructions to the Revolutionary Tribunals issued by the People's Commissar of Justice.
Approved with amendments. Lenin, 1 The draft was submitted for approval to the Council of People's Commissars on May 22, 1918, by the People's Commissar of Justice P. I. Stuchka. Approved with amendments made by Lenin, this provision was submitted to the Council of People's Commissars on May 29, 1918, for approval by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. The provision was published in "Izvestia of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee" No. 117 of June 9, 1918, under the title "Decree... on the Revolutionary Tribunal under the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of Soviets".
11345
LETTER TO THE COMMISSARIAT OF JUSTICE 1.
To the [Commissariat] of Justice.
[April 15, 1918]
I request the members of the College of Justice (preferably all 6) to visit me (we will agree on the day and hour) for a conversation about:
1) what exactly has been done to publish the Collection of Laws and Decrees.
2) — for codification.
3) — to make the court quicker and more merciless to the bourgeoisie and embezzlers, etc.
4) — for legal propaganda among the population, among workers and poor peasants
(a) printed; (b) lecturing (or courses, etc.)
5) — for attracting the poor to judicial (jurors ! assessors]) and investigative work.
6) — for utilizing the forces of Schreider and others.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin).

LETTER TO THE CC OF THE PARTY
1 The immediate reason for Lenin's posing of questions in points 2 and 6 of the printed letter was the discussion at the meeting of the Council of People's Commissars on April 13, 1918, of A. A. Schreider's statement on the need to restore the codification department under the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, as well as Schreider's protest against his removal from the College of the People's Commissariat of Justice, contrary to the decision of the Central Committee of the Left SRs. The issues touched upon by Lenin in points 3, 4 and 5 were related to the preparation by the People's Commissariat of Justice of Decree on the Court No. 3 (published in "Izvestia of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee" No. 152 of July 20, 1918), the content of which was to eliminate a number of shortcomings of Decree on the Court No. 2 (see pp. 216-218 of the Collection).

LETTER TO THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY
To the Central Committee of the RCP.
May 4, 1918

I request that the question of expelling from the party those of its members who, being judges in the case (2. V. 1918) concerning bribe-takers, limited themselves to a sentence of 1/2 a year in prison, despite proven and admitted bribery, be placed on the agenda.
Instead of executing bribe-takers, to issue such mockingly weak and mild sentences is a shameful act for a communist and a revolutionary. Such comrades must be prosecuted by the court of public opinion and expelled from the party, for they belong alongside the Kerenskys or the Martovs, not alongside the revolutionaries-communists.

Lenin.

1 Having written a letter to the Central Committee, Lenin, for a more complete elucidation of the fact he was communicating to the Central Committee, sent a letter to N. V. Krylenko (member of the Collegium of the People's Commissariat of Justice) with the following note above the text of the letter: "To Krylenko. Write in the names: 1) whose case? 2) judges." In response to Lenin's question, Krylenko reported the following: "The case concerning the accusation of Gerhardt Gleist, Mikhail Gugel, Nikolai Podgaisky, and the lawyer Grin was considered by the Moscow Revolutionary Tribunal on May 2, which sentenced the employees of the Investigative Collegium to 6 months in prison for bribery. The names of the judges are unknown... Comrade Dyakonov presided." The note to N. V. Krylenko, written above the text of the letter to the Central Committee, was crossed out by Lenin, obviously, after receiving the answer from Krylenko. In the upper right corner of the document, there is Lenin's note "See reverse." This phrase, encircled by Lenin with a triple line, was apparently intended to draw the attention of the Central Committee to the information reported by N. V. Krylenko on the reverse side of Lenin's letter to the Central Committee.

LKNI PSKNI COLLECTION
lim

AMENDMENTS TO THE DRAFT DECREE ON BRIBERY1.
[May 8, 1918]

I.

A person holding state or public office in the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (such as an official of the Soviet Government, members of Factory Committees, House Committees, boards of cooperatives and trade unions, etc., or employees of such institutions and organizations), guilty of accepting a bribe for performing an action that falls within the scope of his duties, or assisting in the performance of an action that constitutes the duty of an official of another department, shall be punished by deprivation of liberty for a term of not less than five years, combined with forced labor for the same term [and with confiscation of all his property].

IV. Aggravating circumstances of the punishment for bribery are: a) the special powers of the employee, b) the employee's violation of his duties, and c) extortion of a bribe.

V. If a person taking or giving a bribe [or attempting to commit this crime] belongs to the propertied classes and uses the bribe to preserve or obtain privileges associated with property rights, then all his property shall be subject to confiscation, and the guilty person shall be assigned to the most arduous and unpleasant public works*.

Approved.

Lenin.

1 The document is printed from the original, typewritten. The amendments to the draft were made by Lenin in pencil. This draft, on Lenin's initiative, was submitted for approval to the Council of People's Commissars on May 8, 1918, by the People's Commissar of Justice P. I. Stuchka. The question of the need to introduce a bill on punishment for bribery "with demonstrative speed" was raised by Lenin in a note to D. I. Kursky, a few days before the People's Commissariat of Justice submitted the printed draft decree for approval to the Council of People's Commissars (cf. Len. Coll. VIII, p. 8). The decree was published in "Izvestia" of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee No. 93, dated May 12, 1918.
* Here are Lenin's notes: "+ § V", "+ VI". Ed.

ON THE WORK OF THE VCHK

13921
AMENDMENTS TO THE DRAFT DECREE ON THE INADMISSIBILITY OF JOINT SERVICE OF RELATIVES IN SOVIET INSTITUTIONS.1
[July 20, 1918]

§ 1. From the moment of publication of this decree, relatives and in-laws [of the first three degrees] cannot be employed in the same [central] or [local] [Soviet] institution [being in a position of official subordination to each other], and are not to be hired for employment in the future.

[§ 2. In the same department or sub-department of any department of a Soviet institution, no more than 2 relatives of the first three degrees of kinship or affinity may be employed, even if they are not in a position of official subordination to each other.]

§ [3] 2. Within two weeks from this date, all persons at the head of Soviet institutions must dismiss from the departments entrusted to them those employees whose presence is a violation of paragraphs 1 [and 2] of this provision.

§ 3 ...............

The amendments were made by Lenin to the text of the draft, signed by V. I. Nogin and submitted for approval to the Council of People's Commissars by the Commissariat of Labor on July 20, 1918. After a preliminary discussion, A. I. Rykov and V. I. Nogin were instructed to develop this draft and submit it to the commission under the Council of People's Commissars. The draft was approved during its second discussion at the meeting of the Council of People's Commissars on July 27, 1918. Published as a "Resolution of the Council of People's Commissars" in a slightly modified and supplemented form in "Izvestia of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee" No. 161 dated July 31, 1918.
14490
ON THE WORK OF THE VCHK
December 5, 1918
1st Meeting of the Commission (under the Coun[cil of] Defense], in connection with the A.C.C. 5/XII 49 48.
a.
RECORD OF SPEAKERS 1.
Nevsky
Dzerzhinsky
Krasin
Nevsky]

Skliansky
Dzerzhinsky
Krasin
Skliansky
Stalin
Nevsky.1
Lenin

DRAFT PROPOSALS
Members of the party who have been in the party for at least two years should be at the head.
Revise the statute on the A.C.C.
Confirm the right of professional and party organizations to vouch.
More strictly prosecute and punish by execution for false denunciations.
Grant the right to vouch to People's Commissars with the signature of 2 members of the collegium.
The right to participate in the investigation is granted, etc.
When introducing the registration of technical forces, as well as the intelligentsia in general, warn that those who have not registered lose the right to receive certificates with endorsements.
Immediately expand the department of complaints and requests for accelerating cases in the A.C.C.

1 All the names of the speakers were crossed out by Lenin, obviously, after their speeches.
2 All points of the proposals (except for the last two) were crossed out by Lenin after the vote. The resolutions of the commission were formulated on the basis of Lenin's proposals.

LETTER TO D. A. BULATOV1.
Tver.
To the Chairman of the Provincial Executive Committee
Bulatov
25. XII. 1918
I entrust you to investigate the case based on the attached complaint and inform me of the result as soon as possible.

TELEGRAMS, NOTES, ORDERS

Most importantly, report by telegram ("regarding the case of the teacher Ivanova").

Especially important: check the indication that in the committee of the poor there are former and present Black Hundreds members: Teterin, Skvortsov, Kozlov, Baskakov.

Start the verification carefully, so that there is no publicity ahead of time, so that you can cover and expose completely.

If it turns out to be true, these Black Hundreds members must be publicly expelled and published in a leaflet throughout the volost and the uezd, for it is necessary to accustom the population to the fact that sensible complaints have serious significance and lead to serious results.

Telegraph me: "Letter received, order will be carried out," then about the progress of the investigation.

Send the results by letter, the exact results of the investigation and the measures taken.

I think that you, as chairman of the provincial executive committee, do not need a special mandate from me for such a simple matter. If you need it, I will send it.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin).
N.B. Here is the complaint of V. S. Ivanova

1 Currently, D. A. Bulatov is in Moscow on responsible Soviet work.

TELEGRAMS, NOTES, ORDERS
APRIL – DECEMBER 27, 1918

NOTE TO L. B. KAMENEV.
2 39N
To Kamenev.
[Not earlier than April 1918]

I advise you to satisfy Dzerzhinsky's request *. He is formally right, and Krylenko is fussing in vain - that is my impression.
* F. E. Dzerzhinsky appealed with a request to L. B. Kamenev "to force the criminal investigation department to hand over the case and cards of the arrested group of bandits to the Extraordinary Commission." The fulfillment of this request caused

protest of N. A. Krylenko, who asserted that "issuing these cards now to the Extraordinary Commission will spoil the investigation." In a note to Lenin, Kamenev requested advice on this matter.
TELEGRAM TO THE KURSK EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
23717
Kursk.
Executive Committee of the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies.
[Not later than June 14, 1918]
I urgently request that you take emergency measures against the border detachment at Zhelobovka station, Lgovsky Uyezd, on the Kursk — Koreievo line, where the detachment is seizing money and valuables even from poor Ukrainians and Russians and succumbs to provocateurs wishing to disrupt the peace negotiations with Ukraine.
Stop this disgrace to Soviet power. Telegraph me [about] the execution.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin
TELEGRAM TO THE PERM SOVIET.
"515
Perm.
Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. Copy to Central Committee member
Smilga.
17. VII. 1918
I received a complaint from Stanislav Palinski, an old Polish
revolutionary, recommended by Steklov. Palinski was arrested at the Berezniki Soda Plant, postal station
Verkhstia, Perm Governorate, on charges of counter- revolution and sympathy for the Czechoslovaks.
Palinski writes that the legal commission of the Usolsky
Uyezd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies did not find anything criminal in his actions.
I strongly request a strict monitoring of this case and
an impartial examination of it, granting Palinski travel to
Poland.
Telegraph the execution.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.
NOTE TO V. D. BONCH-BRUEVICH1.

[July 19, 1918]
First we need to have accurate data (or accurate complaints)
and pass them on to Stuchka.

TELEGRAMS, NOTES, ORDERS

1 Written in response to a note from B. D. Bonch-Bruevich, reminding
Lenin (at his request) of the need to speak with the People's Commissar of Justice
P. I. Stuchka about the disorders in one of the commissions.
23728
TELEGRAM TO IVANOV KAVKAZSKY.
Biryulevo
Ryazano-Ural
To the Commander of the Detachment
Ivanov Kavkazsky1.
[July 1918]
A complaint has been filed against you that you requisitioned
writing supplies, including a table from the stationmaster.
Return the items immediately. Send your explanations by
telegraph. Proceed further without delay. I demand loyalty to
railroad workers.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.

Ivanov-Kavkazsky was the commander of a combat detachment for the protection
of the Ryazan-Ural Railway.
ORDERS TO THE SECRETARY.
AUGUST 4 — DECEMBER 18, 1918
23534
[August 4, 1918]
Call Muranov read this telegram, order the arrest of bribe-takers -.
Lenin.
1 N. I. Muranov — was the commander of the troops of the Moscow Military
District.
2 The telegram is from the head of the combat detachment for the protection of the
Kursk-Nizhny Novgorod district road, Gorbunov, informing
Lenin that a group of Austrian prisoners of war, heading to
Moscow without documents, detained by him on the night of August 2nd and sent
to Moscow, was, a few hours later, detained again by him
at Serpukhov station, and those arrested presented documents from the
civil commissariat, authorizing their entry into Moscow. For the issuance
of these permits, one ruble was taken from each prisoner in the Commissariat.

In connection with the violation by the Commissariat of the decree on entry into Moscow,
Gorbunov requested instructions on the limits of his authority in such
cases.
II.
23626
[November 20, 1918]
Call Sklyansky with the text along with my request:
organize secret surveillance and tracking of the behavior of these doctors, to expose them, gathering witnesses and documents, and
then bring them to trial1.
Lenin.
1 This order was prompted by a telegraphic message from a member of the
board of the Political Department of the Southern Front, I. I. Khodorovsky, about a number of cases
of Red Army soldiers being discharged from service by doctors of the 18th Moscow evacuation
hospital without valid reasons (as evidenced, according to Khodorovsky, by one of the Red Army soldiers returning from Moscow,
dismissed from service on his own request, without a medical
examination).
III.
3018
[December 18, 1918]
Compose a telegram: «Without releasing, review and immediately inform me of the reasons for the arrest and the possibility of release» and give it to me for signature1. [1252]
1 Written by Lenin on the telegram form he received from Simbirsk from V. M. Ilyin, who petitioned for the release from
arrest of A. M. Ilyin. Above the text of Ilyin's telegram, on the left, is
Lenin's note: "to the archive."

TELEGRAM TO THE KOTELNICH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Kotelnich
To the Executive Committee.
Copy to Vyatka
To the Executive Committee.
17 VIII 1918
I received a complaint from Lubnina that her husband, Lubnin,
was beaten by Nikitin, chairman of the Extraordinary Commission, and that Lubnin is being held in prison in vain. I order that you immediately request
explanations from Nikitin and telegraph me, as well as the opinion of the Votsk Provincial Executive Committee, whether Lubnin can be released if he
is not a counter-revolutionary. [687]
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.

TELEGRAMS, NOTES, ORDERS

23560
TELEGRAM TO THE BRYANSK CHEKA.
Bryansk
Orlovskaya.
To the Extraordinary Commission, Vizner.
August 17, 1918
Telegraph immediately the reasons for your arrest of the chairman
of the Ternovsky Executive Committee in detail. [689]
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.
23594
TELEGRAM TO THE YAROSLAVL PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Yaroslavl.
To the Provincial Executive Committee.
Copy to Romanov to the uyezd Executive Committee.
August 29, 1918
I received a complaint that five Red Army soldiers took money
and belongings, and also threatened to shoot Nikolai Ivanovich Veretennikov, the owner of a mill and a plot of land in the village of Gavritsy,
near Yaroslavl, Kurba station.
Telegraph the names of the Red Army soldiers, then, whether there is any evidence
to suspect Veretennikov of being a White Guardist, and what the decisions
of the local Soviet authorities are regarding the mill and land. Conduct an investigation regarding the seizure of money and belongings.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin
23608
TELEGRAM TO THE VOLOKOLAMSK SOVIET.
Urgent.
Volokolamsk.
Soviet of Workers', Peasants', and Soldiers' Deputies.
September 22, 1918
[Doctor] Eiler should be delivered to Moscow immediately in safety. Answer by telegraph. [891]
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.

23611
TELEGRAM TO THE COUNCIL OF COMMISSARS OF THE PETROGRAD
COMMUNE.
Petrograd.
To the Council of Commissars of the Petrograd Commune.
September 28, 1918
Vseprofszheldor* asks for Gruzdina to be sent to investigate the Sheremet case. They say that Sheremet, the former chairman
of conductors, was arrested on a denunciation. Telegraph me.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.
236011
TELEGRAM TO THE SIMBIRSK PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Simbirsk.
To the Provincial Executive Committee or, if it is not there, to the local military authority.
October 16, 1918
I received a complaint from Sergei Sakharov that he was arrested apparently due to a misunderstanding in connection with the departure of the family [with young children to Samara. I ask you to clarify the matter quickly, especially if there are indications of Sergei Sakharov's involvement with
the White Guards. [995]
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.
2::«|3
TELEGRAM TO THE TAMBOV UYEZD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Tambov.
To the Executive Committee of the Uyezd Soviet of Workers', Peasants', and Soldiers' Deputies.
Copy to the Red Cross.
October 25, 1918
The sick Azanchevskaya, living in the Mikhailov rooms, cannot be evicted. I ask you to take her [into] the care of the Red Cross.
Telegraph your response. [1036]
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.
* All-Russian professional union of railway workers. Ed.

TELEGRAMS, NOTES, ORDERS

23618
TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO THE PRONSK CHEKA.
Pronks
Ryazan.
To the Pronsk Uyezd Extraordinary Commission.
October 28, 1918.
The commission has arrested Ivan Grigorievich Balashov, an employee of the People's Commissariat of Education. Telegraph the
reasons for the arrest and your conclusion. [1046]
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.
TELEPHONE MESSAGES TO THE ALL-RUSSIAN EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSION.
NOVEMBER 2 — 11, 1918
| #
1202G"
Telephone message to Dzerzhinsky or Peters.
[November 2, 1918]
Are there any serious charges against Professor Zernov 1 who has been arrested by you?
Gorbunov and Krasin are asking for his release.
Lenin.

D. N. Zernov — anatomist, was a professor at Moscow State University.
N.

. [November 11, 1918]
I requested this morning information about why Kirill Semenovich Ginzburg* has not been released, despite the fact that he is being vouched for by two members of the Russian Communist Party of Bolsheviks — Dauge 2 and Zhukhovitsky3, as well as information about which member of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission stated and when, that they could not find Ginzburg, although he is being held in Butyrki prison.
I requested this information by the evening of November 11. So far,
at 10!/4 hours, I have not received a response. I repeat my request once again.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.

K. S. Ginzburg — dentist. Arrested by the Cheka at the beginning of November 1918 on suspicion of connections with the Cadet party. Released in mid-November 1918, due to lack of evidence of charges.
s P. G. Dauge was a member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Health during this period and the organizer of the dental sub-section at the Commissariat of Health.
8 G. G. Zhukhovitsky - replaced the head of the dental sub-section at the People's Commissariat of Health.
315 G>
TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO THE BASMANNAYA CHEKA.
Telephone message of the Basmannaya District Extraordinary Commission.
Copy to the Chairman of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission.
[November 11, 1918]
Explain the reasons for the search and seizure in the scientific laboratory of Professor Fedorov2 in the Laboratory of Fibrous Substances of the Moscow Higher Technical School, Baum Street.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.
1 Obviously, in the scientific office.
2 A. S. Fedorov — professor of the Moscow Higher Technical School in 1918.

TELEGRAMS OF THE SAMARA CHEKA
25 NOVEMBER — 10 DECEMBER 1918
I.
Samara.
To the Chairman of the Extraordinary Commission
Copy to the Chairman of the Provincial Executive Committee.
November 25, 1918
Report the grounds for the arrest of Pavel Alexandrovich Preobrazhensky.
Postpone the decision until Svidorsky* arrives, whom
I ask to familiarize himself with the case, and also tell me whether it is possible to release Preobrazhensky on bail to the teachers' union.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.

TELEGRAMS, NOTES, ORDERS

1 P. A. Preobrazhensky — teacher.
2 A. I. Svidersky was a member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Food during this period. It is possible that P. A. Preobrazhensky was personally known to Svidorsky, with which, apparently, Lenin's instruction to postpone the decision on Preobrazhensky's case until Svidorsky's arrival is connected.
Ц в
23636
Samara.
To Cheka Chairman Birn.
December 10, 1918
I received your telegram yesterday to the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission, continue the investigation, observing the conditions specified in my previous telegram1 until the arrival of the departing delegation from the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission. [1208]
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.
1 See p. *236 of the Collection.

TELEGRAM TO G. E. ZINOVIEV.
Ixonin — Chairman of the St. Petersburg branch of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission.
December 3, 1918
Comrade Zinoviev!
Comrade Karl Moor!, a Swiss man, sent me a long letter with a request to release Nalchiksky2, for he is a major technical and organizational force, author of many works, etc.
I have heard and read about Palchinsky as a speculator, etc. during the Kerensky era.
But I don’t know, are there any data against Palchinsky now?
What kind? Serious? Why has the law on amnesty not been applied to him?
If he is a scientist, a writer, is it not possible for him—in the event of
the presence of serious evidence against him—to provide particularly
favorable conditions (e.g., house arrest, a laboratory, etc.).
Please answer me in writing and immediately.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin).
1 K. Moor — an old member of the Swiss Social Democratic Party. After the October Revolution he lived in Russia, sympathizing with the Bolsheviks.
2 Palchinsky — a major engineer, was in 1917 the manager of affairs of the Provisional Government. Shortly before the October coup, he was appointed commandant of Petrograd, actually concentrating dictatorial power in his hands. Convicted of sabotage, shot in 1930 (in connection with the Shakhty trial).

TELEGRAMS TO THE SAMARA PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
6—9 DECEMBER 1918 i .
83G31
Samara.
To the Provincial Executive Committee.
Copy to the Samara Cheka.
December 6, 1918
I order you to immediately release Riesenkampf and the representatives of the Control, limit yourselves, if absolutely necessary, to house arrest or military supervision of the hotel.
You can only leave in prison those against whom you have evidence. Immediately telegraph me their names. You are responsible for the complete safety of plans [ and ] documents and all property.
Telegraph the execution. [1188]
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.
1 Prof. Riesenkampf — head of the expedition for the irrigation of the Turkestan region ("Irtur") — a large group of specialists seconded by the Council of People's Commissars in October 1918 to Turkestan in order to prepare a cotton base for the textile industry.
By the time the first detachments of "Irtur" arrived in Samara, information began to arrive at the Samara Extraordinary Commission about the counter-revolutionary composition of this expedition, which set as its task (according to preliminary investigation data) the use of its stay in Turkestan to ensure English intervention. Upon the establishment of these facts, a joint meeting of the Samara Provincial Committee, the City Executive Committee and the Extraordinary Commission decided to arrest the entire organization of "Irtur", recognizing its further stay in the zone of military operations as dangerous.
The investigation data were immediately reported to the Council of People's Commissars, which approved all the actions of the Cheka, suggesting that the investigation continue in the same direction. At the beginning of January 1919, by order of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars, all the cases of "Irtur" and the arrested members of the "Directorate of Irrigation Works in Turkestan" were delivered to Moscow.
Riesenkampf, released in 1919, was exposed for sabotage in 1930.
The telegram to the Samara Provincial Executive Committee printed above was sent by Lenin before receiving and familiarizing himself with the data of the investigation conducted by the Samara Cheka.

TELEGRAMS, NOTES, ORDERS

23655
II.
Samara.
To the Provincial Executive Committee.
Copy to Saratov, Provincial Executive Committee.
December 9, 1918
I received a complaint about the arrest without reasons [extra] in Pokrovsk of Aichevsky. Submit explanations. [1203]
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.
23632
TELEGRAM TO THE TAMBOV PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Tambov Provincial Executive Committee.
Copy to Borisoglebsk, District Executive Committee.
December 7, 1918
I received a complaint from Inan Bogdanov about the arrest of his son Vladimir, 17 years old, suffering from bronchitis, for sabotage. Review the case, check the illness, inexperience, youth of the arrested, especially investigate whether the real saboteurs were the 30 employees of the land commissariat who refused to work, placing it on Bogdanov. Telegraph the result of the check. [1196]
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.
TELEGRAM TO THE VITEBSK PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
December 17, 1918
Vitebsk, To the Provincial Executive Committee or Revolutionary Committee
Without releasing the arrested Dreitzer and his wife for now, report the reasons for the detention. He complains that he was arrested for observing the decree of December 28*. [1217]
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin.
1 It has not been established which decree is being referred to.