Genrikh Lyushkov: Difference between revisions

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During the time of the [[Moscow Trials]], he was the one who led the interrogations of [[Grigory Zinoviev|Zinoviev]] and [[Kamenev]].<ref name="Medvedev" /> Later, he earned a reputation as "an arrogant, arbitrary and sadistic bully...."{{sfn|Coox|1968|p=408}} On 31 July 1937, he received his final posting, as the NKVD chief in the [[Russian Far East]], where he had direct command over "20,000&ndash;30,000 élite NKVD troops."{{sfn|Coox|1968|p=409}}
 
When he was given the post, he was, according to a later interview with Japanese military officials, given personal orders to aid in the elimination of specific officials as a part of the [[Great Purge]]: [[Vsevolod Balitsky]] (the former [[NKVD]] chief in the [[Russian Far East|Far East]], whom Lyushkov was replacing), [[Vasily Blyukher]] (a [[Marshal of the Soviet Union]]), and A. I. Lapin (the Far East Air Corps Commander). Balitsky, Blyukher, and Lapin all fell victim to the Great Purge. Balitsky's arrest and execution resulted from evidence gathered by Lyushkov. Blyukher's arrest and subsequent death resulted from blame being assigned to him for Lyushkov's defection. Lapin committed suicide while imprisoned.{{sfn|Coox|1968|p=408}}
 
Prompted by his Japanese interrogators, Lyushkov gave one of the earliest explanations of the circumstances of the [[Great Purge]], arguing that he had been merely appeasing Stalin and that he had no choice but to carry out his orders. Lyushkov, immediately upon arriving in [[Khabarovsk]], saw that Balitsky had been arrested and sent to Moscow for trial and execution.