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Andrey VyshinskiySoviet lawyer and diplomat.
Date of Birth: 10.12.1883
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
- Andrei Yanuaryevich Vyshinsky: Soviet Jurist and Diplomat
- Political Involvement and Career
- Prosecutor in the Moscow Trials
- Diplomatic Service
- Later Life and Legacy
Andrei Yanuaryevich Vyshinsky: Soviet Jurist and Diplomat
Early Life and EducationAndrei Vyshinsky was born into a Catholic family in Baku. In 1901, he enrolled in the Law Faculty of Kiev University but repeatedly dropped out, graduating only in 1913.
Political Involvement and Career
In 1903, Vyshinsky joined the Menshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. After finishing his studies, he taught at a private gymnasium and practiced law in Baku. After the February Revolution in 1917, he became the Commissar of Militia for the Yakimanka District in Moscow.
Following the Bolshevik Revolution, Vyshinsky joined the Communist Party in 1920. In 1925-1928, he served as the Rector of Moscow State University. During his time, he implemented strict policies that reduced the university's autonomy and emphasized political indoctrination. This led to a decline in academic standards.
Prosecutor in the Moscow Trials
In 1935, Vyshinsky became the Prosecutor General of the Soviet Union. He played a central role as the state prosecutor in the three Moscow Trials (1936-1938). Known for his harsh style and unwavering belief in the guilt of the accused, Vyshinsky showed contempt for his defendants. His approach was reportedly admired by Roland Freisler, the presiding judge of the Nazi "People's Court."
Despite allegations that Vyshinsky emphasized the defendant's confession as the "queen of evidence," his writings argued the opposite. He stated that confessions should not be given undue weight, and that other evidence should be the primary basis for conviction.
Diplomatic Service
In 1940, Vyshinsky joined the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs. He witnessed Germany's surrender in 1945. From 1949 to 1953, during the Cold War and the Korean War, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs. After Stalin's death, he was replaced by Vyacheslav Molotov and became the Soviet representative at the United Nations.
Later Life and Legacy
Vyshinsky died in New York City in 1954. He was cremated, and his ashes were interred in the Kremlin Wall on Red Square in Moscow. After the 20th Communist Party Congress in 1956, Vyshinsky was posthumously denounced. His work was removed from official use, and his family lost their privileges. Despite his controversial legacy, Vyshinsky remains a significant figure in Soviet history.
