TELEGRAMS TO THE TSARITSYN GUBERNIA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND CHEKA.  
24UC*  
Tsaritsyn  
To the Gubernia Executive Committee  
Copy to the Cheka  
[March 6, 1919]  
A certain Valentina Pershikova, 17 years old, has been arrested allegedly because of my portrait.¹ Report what the matter is.  
Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars, Lenin.  

¹ V. Pershikova, an employee of the Tsaritsyn housing department, was arrested for defacing a portrait of Lenin, which she had torn out of some brochure. Her release was requested (in a telegram to Lenin) by Usachev, the head of one of the precincts of the Tsaritsyn militia.  

£4366  
Tsaritsyn  
To the Chairman of the Gubernia Extraordinary Commission, Myshkin  
March 8, 1919  
One cannot arrest for defacing a portrait. Release Valentina Pershikova immediately, and if she is a counter-revolutionary, then keep an eye on her. [335]  
Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars, Lenin.