Urgent. Secret

To Deputy Chairman of the VChK, Comrade Unshlikht

Make inquiries and report to me no later than tomorrow precise and exhaustive answers to the following questions:

1) Is it true that in Petrograd on May 27 the following were arrested: Prof. P. A. Shchurkeévich (Electrotechnical Institute), Prof. N. N. Martinóvich (University and Oriental Institute), Prof. Shcherba (University, Professor of Comparative Linguistics), Prof. B. S. Martýnov (University, Professor of Civil Law), senior zoologist A. K. Mordvílko (Academy of Sciences), the wife of Prof. Tikhánov (Institute of Civil Engineers), Prof. B. E. Voróbjev (I Polytechnical Institute).

2) Is it true that Prof. Pantelei Antónovich Shchurkeévich is being arrested for the fifth time, and Prof. Boris Evdokímovich Voróbjev for the third time.

3) What is the reason for the arrest and why specifically has arrest been chosen as a preventative measure — surely they will not flee.

4) Does the VChK, Provincial Cheka, or other Cheka organs issue mandates not for personal arrests, but for arrests "at discretion," and if they do issue them, then to which precisely (degree of responsibility, position, political maturity) of the staff.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

from typewritten text signed by V. I. Lenin

Written June 2, 1921

Published for the first time,