Abram Gilinsky Soviet statesman Date of Birth: 07.01.1897

Content:

1. Early Life and Education
2. Political Activism and Revolutionary Involvement
3. Post-Revolution Involvement
4. Underground Work in Ukraine
5. Party Leadership and Administrative Roles
6. Administrative Leadership
7. Education and Work in Moscow
8. Narcomat of Supply
9. Minister of Food Industry
10. Arrest, Trial, and Execution
11. Rehabilitation and Legacy
12. Awards

Early Life and Education

Born into a Jewish Family

Lev Mekhlis was born on January 8, 1897, in Dvinsk, Latvia, into a family of booksellers. He completed his schooling in Dvinsk in 1910 and worked as an electrician from 1911 onwards.

Political Activism and Revolutionary Involvement

Joining the Bolshevik Party

In 1915, Mekhlis joined the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party (Bolsheviks), known as the RSDRP(b). He engaged in party work in Dvinsk and Kharkiv. In December 1915, he was arrested and exiled to Irkutsk Governorate for three years.

Post-Revolution Involvement

Released during the February Revolution

The February Revolution led to Mekhlis' release. He was then amnestied on March 6, 1917. After April 1917, he served as an agitator in the Narva District Committee of the RSDRP(b) in Petrograd. In 1917-1918, he played roles as an agitator, organizer, and chief of staff of the Red Guard in Kremenchug.

Underground Work in Ukraine

Organizing Partisan Resistance

From 1918 to 1920, Mekhlis worked underground in Ukraine. He served as chairman of the Volyn (1918-1919) and Kyiv (December 1919 - 1920) regional committees of the Communist Party of Ukraine. He played a vital role in organizing partisan detachments.

Party Leadership and Administrative Roles

Rising through the Party Ranks

After the Ukrainian Civil War, Mekhlis held various party leadership positions. He was secretary of the Yekaterinoslav Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine (April - September 1920). In 1920, he returned to electrical work in Kharkiv. From December 1920 to March 1921, he served as Secretary of the Yekaterinoslav Regional Committee, and later as head of the Organizational Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine.

Administrative Leadership

In August 1923, Mekhlis became Secretary of the Gomel Regional Committee of the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik). In December 1925, he assumed the same role in the Ryazan Regional Committee.

Education and Work in Moscow

Marxism-Leninism Studies

From September 1928 to 1929, Mekhlis pursued a course in Marxism-Leninism at the Central Executive Committee of the USSR. After that, he became deputy head of the Organization and Distribution Department of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) from 1929 to 1930.

Narcomat of Supply

In January 1931, Mekhlis joined the People's Commissariat of Supply of the USSR. He held positions as Head of the Personnel Sector, Head of the Main Directorate of the Alcohol and Spirits Industry, and Deputy People's Commissar.

Minister of Food Industry

Appointed People's Commissar

On January 19, 1938, Mekhlis was appointed People's Commissar of the Food Industry of the USSR. He remained in this role until his arrest and dismissal in 1938.

Arrest, Trial, and Execution

Accused of Counter-Revolutionary Activities

On June 24, 1938, Mekhlis was arrested. On February 26, 1939, he was found guilty of espionage, sabotage, and participation in a counter-revolutionary organization by the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR. He was sentenced to death and executed the same day.

Rehabilitation and Legacy

Posthumously Cleared

Mekhlis was rehabilitated on April 2, 1955, by the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR.

Awards

Mekhlis was awarded the Order of Lenin on August 1, 1936, for his contributions to the food industry.

Statesmen

Augusts Voss	Anna Wintour	John Sullivan
Yan Berzin	Lazaro Cardenas	Michael Krivoshlykov