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The Treason Case Summed Up

By Andrey Vyshinsky murderers, spies, wreckers and The criminal activities of Bukharin diversionists, without ideology or and his fellow traitors as summarized principles. This is a band of criminals by the Soviet Prosecutor at the session who sold themselves to the intelligence of the Military Collegium of the services of our enemies. Supreme Court of the USSR on March 11. The so-called “Bloc of Rights and Trotskyites” is an organization for From Soviet Russia Today, April 1938 espionage, diversions, wrecking Vol. 7 No. 2 activities and political assassinations, a bloc for the sale of the Fatherland. Transcribed by Red Flag Magazine

This is the first time that our court has Agents of Fascism had to try a case of such crimes and such misdeeds as those that have passed This anti-Soviet “Bloc of Rights and before the eyes of this court, of such Trotskyites” constitutes an agency of criminals as these defendants. foreign intelligence services. The members of the Bloc and its leaders, like Before us has been unfolded a chain of Trotsky, Bukharin, Rykov, Yagoda, misdeeds which overshadow the vilest, Krestinsky, Rosenholtz, and its rank and the most abominable file members, like crimes. We have We have succeeded in tearing Zubarev, Maximov- succeeded in tearing from the faces of these miscreants Dikovsky and others, from the faces of these their perfidious masks, and have are the slaves of these miscreants their shown to our people, and to all intelligence perfidious masks, and honest men throughout the world, services—they are the have shown to our the bestial face of international slaves of their people, and to all honest brigands, the directing hand of masters. men throughout the villains conspiring against our world, the bestial face peaceful Socialist labor. What ideology, then, of international what “problematics” brigands, the directing hand of villains or “prognostication” as Bukharin conspiring against our peaceful Socialist expressed himself, what “theory” or labor. philosophy could be found here? The “theory” and philosophy behind whose The historical significance of this trial smoke screen Bukharin attempted to consists in that it has been proved that hide himself here is only a mask for the Rights, the Trotskyites, Mensheviks, camouflaging espionage. Socialist-Revolutionaries, and Bourgeois Nationalists constitute a band of 2

The “Bloc of Rights and Trotskyites” operations with the above mentioned sitting in this dock in Moscow is the intelligence services. vanguard of international fascism, a pack The entire “Bloc” consisted wholly of of hangmen and underground assassins foreign spies and agents of the Tsarist with whose aid international fascism secret police. Trotsky had been operates in various countries. In the first connected with the German Intelligence place, it operates in Spain and China. Service since 1921 and with the British That is why the exposure of Intelligence Service the Bloc of Rights and The “Bloc of Rights and since 1926. Bukharin Trotskyites” as a gang of Trotskyites” sitting in this and Rykov, through spies is of tremendous dock in Moscow is the their accomplices, were importance not only for the vanguard of international connected with a cause of our Socialist fascism, a pack of hangmen number of foreign Revolution, for the cause of and underground assassins intelligence services Socialism in the USSR. It with whose aid international whom they regularly is also of tremendous fascism operates in various served. German and importance for the entire countries. Polish spies surrounded international proletariat. It Yagoda like flies. He is of tremendous importance for the not only screened them, but through cause of peace throughout the world. It them he conducted espionage and is of tremendous importance for all transmitted state secrets to intelligence human culture and civilization, for the services, sold and betrayed our country struggle for genuine democracy and the to these intelligence services. liberty of peoples, for the struggle Krestinsky, according to his own against all warmongers and against all admission, had been a German spy since intellectual provocations and 1921. provocateurs. Rosenholtz, one of the leaders of the Trotskyite underground organizations, They Spied for Foreign Powers commenced his espionage work for the German General Staff in 1923 and for Her in the dock sits, not one such anti- the British Intelligence Service in 1926. Soviet group, here sits agents of not one Rakovsky, one of Trotsky’s closest and foreign intelligence service, but a particularly trusted men, had been an number of anti-Soviet groups, agent of the British Intelligence representing agencies of intelligence Service since 1924 and of the Japanese services of a number of foreign Intelligence Service since 1934. countries, hostile to the USSR. In this Chernov, a German spy since 1928, “affair” are entangled remnants of all established contact with the German anti-Soviet forces, all anti-Soviet groups Intelligence Service upon the and organizations. Here are entangled at initiative and with the assistance of the least four foreign intelligence services: notorious émigré Menshevik, Dan. Japanese, German, Polish, and British Sharangovich was recruited by the and, of course, those other foreign Polish Intelligence Service and sent into intelligence services which maintain the USSR for espionage in 1921. Grinko friendly working contact in their became a spy for the German and Polish 3

Intelligence Services in 1932. Ikramov Communist Party and the great Stalin to and Khodjaev were connected with the offer a crushing repulse to any enemy agents of the British Intelligence under any conditions. Service, which the notorious adventurer Lawrence did much to strengthen along the Central Asiatic borders of the Two Worlds USSR. Then follow the provocateurs and agents of the Tsarist secret police, In twenty years the entire aspect of our Zelensky, Zubarev and Ivanov—the country has fundamentally changed; it latter also a British spy. Add to this has been transformed into the richest, company the group of prisoners, the mightiest proletarian power. Socialism murderers Levin, Pletnev, Kazakov, has permeated the every day life of our Kriuchkov and Maximov-Dikovsky, and people, Socialism in our country has the moral and political essence of this won, finally and irrevocably. From the “Bloc” and its every participant first days of the great become completely clear. This This is an unprincipled October Revolution to is an unprincipled gang of gang of murders, who the brilliant days of the murders, who stop at nothing, stop at nothing, who epoch of the Stalinist who have no scruples, who are have no scruples, who Constitution, the young ready for everything, for are ready for republic of the Soviets blowing up plants, for everything, for blowing has never been out of the wrecking trains, destroying up plants, for wrecking fire of the class offensive cattle, damaging grain, for trains, destroying of the exploiters and their murders, espionage and cattle, damaging grain, countless agents in the treason. for murders, espionage persons of Trotskyites, and treason. Mensheviks, Socialist- They did everything they could Revolutionaries, to set fire to our house from all four Bukharinites, Zinovievites, the sides, they hastened to open the gates to Georgian, Uzbek and other nationalists, the enemy in order to force their way to the reactionaries of the “Black power, even at the price of a Judas’ Hundred,” White guards, Constitutional betrayal. It is precisely these crimes that Democrats, priests, kulaks, et cetera, et explain the real course of events, the real cetera. logic of events and the struggle that places face to face two worlds and two This trial has once more reminded us blocs, the bloc of traitors and hirelings of that two worlds—world capitalism and foreign capital, the bloc of traitors who world Socialism face each other as covered themselves with eternal shame, irreconcilable and deadly enemies. with disgrace and the condemnation of millions of working people throughout In 1921 Lenin gave us this warning: the world, and, confronting these, the “We are surrounded by the world bloc of Soviet patriots, great and bourgeoisie who are watching every invincible in their love for their moment of vacillation in order to bring Fatherland, the people who stood the test back ‘their own folk,’ in order to restore of historic battle against all enemies, the landlords and the bourgeoisie.” people ready under the leadership of the 4

Throughout the existence of the Soviet the Soviet people, who now curse his power, certain circles of foreign hateful name? Could Bukharin, who bourgeoisie have never ceased in their started out in 1928 with the quack attempts to restore capitalism and the “theory” of the peaceful growing of power of the landlords and capitalists. kulaks into socialism, who, in the course They are supporting the remnants of of these ten years carried on an these classes, their agents within our underground struggle against the Part country. Was no the devilish work of and against the Soviet people, could foreign intelligence services shown by Bukharin finish his political career the trial of the British engineers, otherwise than he does now? Thornton, MacDonald and others who were exposed in 1933 as agents of an The kinship in the positions of the intelligence service? Was not this also Trotskyites and the Rights, their constant shown by the well-known trial of the attraction to each other, their constant “Industrial Party,” in which, alongside search for blocs, and the existence of Ramzin and Chernovsky, the first violin these blocs at various stages of their was played by the White émigrés struggle against the Party and the Soviet Riabushinsky and General Lukomsky, State, are to be explained in the first by the British spy, Colonel Lawrence, place by the common social base of the and the French General Joinville? Trotskyites and the Rights.

The significance of this trial goes Both the Trotskyites and the Rights beyond the bounds of an ordinary reflect the pressure of capitalist elements criminal trial. It takes on the greatest who are resisting the successes of historical significance. This trial has once more Socialism and have no This trail sums up the reminded us that two intention of leaving the results of the struggle worlds—world capitalism historical arena against the Soviet State and world Socialism face peacefully and quietly. and the party of Lenin each other as irreconcilable They both acted on orders and Stalin, waged by and deadly enemies. of the same masters, people who wore masks sitting in the General throughout their lives, and who Staffs and Intelligence Services of commenced this struggle long before the foreign countries hostile to the USSR. present time, who, under cover of loud The Trotskyites and the Rights many phrases of provocateurs, served not the years ago became henchmen of the Revolution and the proletariat but the bourgeois counter-revolution. The counter-revolution and the bourgeoisie. Trotskyites and Rights are both engaged in the same work of black treason.

Bukharin’s Plot against Lenin Before the Revolution, in 1909, Bukharin waged a struggle against Bukharin, who started out in 1918 with a Lenin’s line on fundamental issues of plot against Lenin as head of the Soviet Party tactics. In the years of the State—could he finish otherwise than he Imperialist War Bukharin declared does now, in this ignominious dock himself against Lenin’s slogan of civil awaiting the severe but just verdict of war and for the unity of the Trotskyites. 5

During the war Bukharin developed danger. And he did that at the very anarchist views on the problem of the moment when the Rights and the state; he repudiated the dictatorship of Trotskyites were actually conducting the the proletariat and published a thesis work of undermining spying and rejecting the principle of the right of diversion against he Party and this nations to self-determination. Like all country. Trotskyites, Bukharin denies the possibility of the victory of Socialism in one country. He waged a struggle Rykov’s Background of Treachery against this theory in the Trotskyite newspaper Novy Mir, which he edited The other “heroes” were no better than jointly with Trotsky. At the Sixth Party Bukharin. In Saratov, before joining the Congress, in 1917, he spoke against the Bolsheviks, Rykov was a member of the line of Lenin and Stalin, and United Party of Socialist propounded the same In 1921 Lenin gave Revolutionaries and Social- Trotskyite theory of the us this warning: “We Democrats. From 1909 to impossibility of the victory of are surrounded by 1911, Rykov was semi- Socialism in Russia, In 1918, the world bourgeoisie Trotskyite, semi-liquidator. as leader of the “Left who are watching At the April Party conference Communists,” Bukharin every moment of in 1917, he advocated an turned to terrorism against vacillation in order to alliance with the Socialist- Lenin. In 1919, at the Eighth bring back ‘their Revolutionaries and Party Congress, he waged a own folk,’ in order to Mensheviks. In October, struggle against Lenin on restore the landlords 1917, Rykov, jointly fundamental issues of the and the bourgeoisie.” Kamenev and Zinoviev, program of the Bolshevik turned deserter; in December, Party. In 1921, together with Trotsky, 1917, he declared that the Soviet power Bukharin waged a struggle against the was not stable and that Socialism could Party on the questions of the role and not win in Russia; in 1920, Rykov tasks of the trade unions. In 1922, entered a bloc with the worst enemies of Bukharin tried to disrupt the monopoly the Revolution—the Sapronovites. Later of foreign trade and came forward as a Rykov opposed the Leninist plan for the defender of profiteers, the petty electrification of the country; in 1928, he bourgeoisie and the kulaks. In 1923- was the leader of the right wing 1924, Bukharin entered a bloc with deviationists, and then followed more Kamenev and Zinoviev against Comrade blocs, centers, plots and betrayals. Stalin. In 1928, Bukharin was the leader of the Right Deviationists. Later, while Notwithstanding all his dodging and formally acknowledging his mistakes, he attempts to evade responsibility for this actually took up the course of double- monstrous crime, Bukharin has been dealing and lies; he made a bloc with the fully convicted of the attempt to disrupt Trotskyites, Mensheviks and Socialist- the Brest-Litovsk Peace, to arrest and Revolutionaries. At the Seventeenth murder the leaders of the Party and the Party Congress he demanded a ruthless Government, Lenin, Stalin and smashing of all oppositions and of the Sverdlov., and to overthrow the Soviet opposition of the Rights as the chief power—convicted of a plot conceived 6 by him jointly with Trotsky and the that the murder of our leaders was “Left” and Right Socialist- contemplated and prepared. Revolutionaries. Bukharin, together with his adherents, did everything to Bukharin’s crimes against the Fatherland disrupt the Brest-Litovsk Peace, fully and the Soviet people, however, are not realizing that in those days the question limited to this terrible crime. Bukharin’s of war and peace meant life or death for participation in such a monstrous crime the Soviet power and the Soviet people. as the attempt on Lenin’s life by Kaplan, By their provocative speeches and the Socialist-Revolutionary terrorist, on slogans, the Bukharinites and August 13, 1918, has now been fully Trotskyites attempted to lead the Party revealed. Karelin, former leader of the astray from the Leninist path. It was “Left” Socialist-Revolutionaries, only for camouflage that they called testified that “the question of a terrorist themselves “Left” Communists. In act against Lenin was raised by Bukharin reality, as was irrefutably proved by in the second half of July, 1918,” and preliminary investigation and the that this demand “played its part in testimony in court, they sought forcibly hastening the terrorist act against Lenin to overthrow the Soviet power, to committed by the Central Committee of assassinate Lenin, Stalin and Sverdlov, Right Socialist-Revolutionaries.” and to form a new government of Bukharinites, Socialist-Revolutionaries The witness, Ossinsky, also spoke about and Trotskyites. All this has been this in court. ascertained and proved. In his hypocrisy and perfidy, Bukharin Bukharin admits the plot of the bloc of surpassed the lowest creatures ever “Left Communists” with Trotskyites and know in the history of mankind. How “Left” and Right Socialists many times did Bukharin swear by Revolutionaries in 1918 and the plan to Lenin’s name in order to deceive and arrest Lenin, Stalin and Sverdov, but betray Lenin and his Party? How many does everything to deny the plan for times did he offer the treacherous kiss of murdering our leaders. But this was Judas to his great teacher? testified to by Karelin, Yakovleva, Ossinsky and Mantsev, people for whom The court investigation established, with the admission of such a shameful and exhaustive thoroughness, that the “Bloc terrible fact, such a monstrous crime of Rights and Trotskyites,” as agents of against the Fatherland, was of no the intelligence services of certain states, advantage. These people were worked to undermine the military power participants in that plot. of the USSR; aimed for the overthrow of Soviet power and the restoration of capitalism and the rule of the Bukharin Admits Murder Plot bourgeoisie; the dismemberment of the USSR; the separation of the Ukraine, Driven into a corner, Bukharin admitted White Russia, the Central Asiatic both the plot and the plan for the arrests. Republics, Georgia, Armenia, He did not deny and even had to admit Azerbaijan, and the Maritime Province.

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Trotsky headed this bloc, and the bloc Fascism. The cards of the traitors are on worked in accordance with the plans of the table—marked cards. the General Staffs of Japan, Germany and Poland. Colonel Oberhaus, with At the beginning to the interrogation, who Chernov was connected, said: “If Rykov testified that the national-fascist you want to seize power, don’t be organizations of White Russia, led buy scrupulous about methods of struggle.” Goloded, Chervyakov and Sharangovich, and forming part of the This advice fell on fertile soil. The bloc, coordinated entire organization of the Rights was important appointments with the Polish placed at the service of the German Intelligence Service. This fact shows Intelligence Service. As Rykov with sufficient clarity the nature of their admitted, the “Bloc of Rights and connections. It is clear that the real Trotskyites” was an agency of certain masters of the bloc were the intelligence intelligence services of certain foreign services of foreign states. states. Sharangovich testified that the national-fascist organization of White I will also cite the testimony of the Russia constituted the “fifth column” defendant Ivanov, who stated that some which Polish General Staff needed in the times “we did not know where the event of an offensive against the USSR. foreign intelligence services were acting.” According to Ivanov, Bukharin Rykov admitted that he knew about the advised him to establish contact with the negotiation which Karakhan conducted British Intelligence Service. The close with the German Fascists in 1933; he connections of the bloc with foreign also admitted that the “Bloc of Rights intelligence services were told by and Trotskyites” prepared a base of Rakovsky, who simultaneously served attack against the USSR by the English and Japanese Intelligence German Fascism. Services and, therefore, found himself in a difficult position. Rakovsky testified: Receiving an allowance of 250,000 “We did not know how to behave in marks from General Seeckt, the traitors, order not to offend one or the other back in 1920-1921, concluded an party.” agreement with the German General Staff, on the strength of which they had to supply espionage information for this “To Open the Gates to the Enemy” money. The bloc was preparing to open the gates German Fascism, however, needs not to the enemy, as Rykov confirmed and only espionage information. Hitler Bukharin had to admit. Their plan needs colonies and, instead of waging a included preparation of an armed attack war with America or Britain, he is ready against the USSR. However much to satisfy himself with territory of the Bukharin might strive to outdo himself USSR. As Bukharin admitted, servants in the interpretation of certain words and of the German Intelligence Service who phrases, it is a fact that they, jointly with possess keys to the gates of our frontiers, Rykov and Tomsky, were preparing an wanted to open them to German attack by the aggressors on the USSR; 8

that they entrained no scruples about the opening the frontier at the time of an means for overthrowing the Soviet attack by fascist aggressors on our power; that they for the support of states Soviet soil. Bukharin knew well, and so hostile to the USSR and negotiated with he testified at examination, that the them regarding the destruction of the tremendous patriotism of the Soviet Soviet State in order to assume power by people will permit no one to plan treason dark treason and to turn this power over in its house, that the traitors would have to the fascists—their real masters. to pay for it with their heads. They took no account this patriotism. They took no The conspirators set themselves the task account how deeply the people love their of opening the frontier and securing the Fatherland. It was on this basis that they defeat of the USSR. All the spying work built up their provocative work. That is of the “Bloc of Rights and Trotskyites” why they wanted to make it appear that and connections of the individual the opening of the frontier was the participants in the bloc and of the whole devilish design of someone else and that group with foreign intelligence services they had nothing to do with it. were cultivated by Bukharin and Rykov. This was proved irrefutably. All the spy reports were delivered to foreign Trotsky’s Pacts with Japan and intelligence services through channels Germany and contacts which were in the hands of Bukharin, Rykov and Yagoda. Such was As was established in previous trials and the contact of Rykov through Dan, now corroborated, Trotsky made an through the magazine agreement with German and Japanese Socialistichesky Viestnik, through the Intelligence Services for the join Mensheviks and the Socialist- struggle against the USSR. Carrying out Revolutionaries and through the entire this agreement, the plotters, who had White guard scum, who, with Bukharin, worked their way by double-dealing into Rykov and Yagoda and others, dreamt responsible positions, disrupted normal not merely of some kind of new diplomatic relations between the USSR government but of a real return to and Germany, organized contact capitalism, of a real domination of between the underground landlord and capitalist. Trotskyite organizations of the USSR and the German espionage organizations Krestinsky, Rakovsky, Ivanov, Grinko, and their agents, in order to organize the Yagoda, Sharangovich and the other defeat of the USSR and to prepare the ringleaders of the bloc regularly supplied way for foreign intervention and for to foreign intelligence services, and the wrestling the Ukraine, the Maritime General Staffs of certain foreign province and White Russia from the countries, secret information about the USSR. The “Bloc of Rights and USSR and the most important state Trotskyites” carried on preparations for secrets. The defendants themselves had the separation of the national republics to admit this. Of their spying work we through the counter-revolutionary also have evidence supplied by the bourgeois nationalist groups of Grinko, masters of these traitors and spies. Khodjaev and Ikranvov, Sharganovich, Bukharin and Rykov contemplated Goloded and Chervyakov. The “Bloc of 9

Rights and Trotskyites” and the foreign this activity was an attempt to strangle intelligence services sought to separate the Socialist Revolution by the bony the union republics for the purpose of hand of famine. weakening the USSR and dooming our fraternal people’s union of republics to the slavery of the capitalists. Terrorism against Soviet Leaders

This gang of traitors used methods of Terrorism directed against the leaders of wrecking, diversion, espionage and the Party and the Government was one terrorism. Bukharin, Rykov and of the favorite methods of struggle of the Ikramov organized kulak bloc. Rykov openly Ikramov and Khodjaev uprisings. Chernov, stated that under the disrupted cotton growing, Grinko, Rosenholtz and conditions of the illegal while Zelensky, through his Zelensky, occupying nature of a agents, put nails and glass in responsible posts, had conspiratorial food products and artificially enormous opportunities organization, n the created a food shortage. for wrecking. The absence of a mass base wreckers aimed to undermine the and in the absence of other paths, economic might of the USSR and the terrorism provided a possibility. Upon defense of the country, to damage Trotsky’s instructions, the entire bloc agriculture and transport in order to time systematically engaged in terrorist the evil consequences of these acts with activities, each in his own field, the moment of the attack on the USSR following a general plan. Only now it is and to create the conditions for the established that Kirov was killed in destruction of Soviet power. The “Bloc accordance with the decision of the of Rights and Trotskyites” did not stop center of the Bloc of Rights and at provocations in order to arouse the Trotskyites. This was confirmed by the discontent of the population. Chernov, defendant Yagoda, who was an active enlisted by the German Intelligence organizer of this murder. Yagoda Service, had instructions from the latter testified that Rykov and Bukharin to deprive the Red Army of horses and participated in the decision to perpetrate to poison and infect cattle. Twenty-five this murder. Rykov and Bukharin thousand horses perished in Western admitted that their plan included terrorist Siberia alone. Rosenholtz, in making acts against the leaders of the Party and contracts for the export of oil, gold and the Government. pig-iron, protected the interests of Germany and Japan and retarded the The investigation established that the import material for defense purposes in murder of Menzhinsky, Kuibyshev, accordance with the orders of foreign Gorky and Peshkov was carried out upon intelligence services. Ikramov and instructions of the center of this Bloc. Khodjaev disrupted cotton growing, This was admitted by the defendants while Zelensky, through his agents, put who took direct part in these villainous nails and glass in food products and acts. In the course of a short period, artificially created a food shortage. three outstanding personalities of the Sharangovich and Ivanov also engaged Soviet State, and among them the great in wreaking activities. The object of all Russian writer, Gorky, met their death. 10

Each line written by Gorky breathed it, which was being prepared against with the excitement of revolutionary Gorky. action. It was not for nothing that all his life this writer was bound with the The methods used to accomplish the leaders of the Socialist Revolution, murders are worth noting. They Lenin and Stalin, as their best friend. consisted in gradual killing by means of The criminals of the “Bloc of Rights and special drugs and in utilizing the special Trotskyites” extinguished one of the knowledge of the murderers. The most brilliant and beautiful lights of all history and annals of criminal murders in mankind. recent decades show that poisoning with the aid of professional murderers has disappeared. Poisoners have now been The Murder of Gorky replaced by criminal physicians. It was no accident that Yagoda chose such a Now everything is exposed, not only the method of killing the best men of our motives for the murder, but the country. He took into account the murderers themselves. The order to historical situation and arranged the eliminate Gorky was given by the chief poisoning so as to be able to represent bandit, Trotsky, brought to the USSR by the murder as natural death from illness. Bessonov and handed to the bloc, which adopted the decision regarding the It is known that Pope Clement II was murder. killed by smoke from a poisoned candle. We know the case of Buturlin, who was The trial has proved irrefutably that killed by Panchenko, who controlled in Rykov and Bukharin knew about these Russia the sale of “Sermin-Pel.” Under terrorist acts, about these monstrous the guise of this medicine, Panchenko crimes. Rykov admitted that as far back introduced diphtheria bacilli into a sick as the end of 1935 he talked with organism. There are numerous examples Yenukidze abut Gorky, about the fact of such murders committed by various that Gorky was a staunch supporter of human monsters. Stalin and the Trotskyites and Zinovievites were worried about Gorky’s tremendous influence on public Yagoda’s Monstrous Crimes opinion. Rykov admitted that the plotters insisted upon the end of Gorky’s Thus were effected the murders of political activity and admitted the Menzhinsky, Kuibyshev and Gorky. In possibility of applying violence against accordance with this plan there was also him. Rykov admitted that he and planned a terrorist act against that Yenukidze talked about the murder of outstanding Stalinist, Yezhov. Yagoda Gorky. gave instructions to arrange matters in such a way that Yezhov should inhale Bukharin, who wriggled and shuffled at poisons and gradually die. This was the trial, had to admit the same. In 1935 done, with the knowledge and approval he had a similar talk with Tomsky about of the “Bloc of Rights and Trotskyites.” a “hostile action,” as Bukharin expressed 11

The findings of expert medical power, were, however, isolated from the witnesses, who included the best center of the plot. Their crimes differ representatives of Soviet medicine, from the crimes committed by Rykov, established the fact that, in cases of Bukharin, Grinko and the others. Gorky, Kuibyshev, Menzhinsky and Therefore Rakovsky and Bessonov Peshkov, the criminals employed deserve lesser punishment, namely methods to accelerate their deaths. twenty-five years imprisonment. In regard to all the others, the Procurator Yagoda, whose duty it was to safeguard demands the supreme penalty—to be the security of the state, committed the shot. gravest of crimes. Disguising himself, resorting to double-dealing, this traitor The entire Soviet people and all the emulated Joseph Fouchè. This base honest men throughout the world are enemy of the Soviet power, this awaiting your sentence. Let your outrageous traitor, who organized a sentence, Comrade Judges, resound as a group of German spies and agents of bell calling for new victories. The entire intelligence services, must be cast out of country demands one thing: shoot the life. The accused did not all participate plotters as foul dogs, crush the accursed in these crimes to an equal extent. To be vipers. The years will pass and graves considered as accomplices this was not of traitors will be overgrown with wild necessary. The tasks, aims and criminal weeds and thistles, while bright rays of activities were well known to all, our sun will shine over our Fatherland as approved and adopted. There was a brightly as ever. Along the road cleaned division of labor among the criminals. of this filth, our people will march The crimes of the accused are proved by onward; headed by our great teacher and their own testimonies, by the evidence of leader, Stalin, they will march towards witnesses, by the findings of expert Communism. witnesses, and by material evidence. All these proofs are at the disposal of the ———————————————— court. The verdict of the court, announced by Speaking concretely, the actions of each Presiding Judge Ulrich, was the death of the accused are part of a single plan of penalty for Nikoly Bukharin, Alexey criminal activity, reflected in the charges Rykov, Henry Yagoda, Nikolay preferred against all of them and covered Krestinsky, A. P. Rosenholtz, Vladimr by Article 58-11 of the criminal code of Ivanov, Mikhail Chernov, Gergory the RSFSR. It does not follow that equal Grinko, I. A. Zelensky, Dr. Ignatius punishment must be meted out to all the Kazakov, Dr. L. V. Levin, Faizulla accused. Khodzhayev, Akmal Ikramov, F. A. Sharangovich, P. Y. Zubarev, P. P. Bulanov, V. K. Kruchkov and V. A. The Supreme Penalty Maximov. Christian G. Rakovsky, Dr. Dmitri Pletnev and S. A. Bessonov Of all the defendants, two, Rakovsky received prison sentences. and Bessonov, though they committed most heinous crimes against the Soviet