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Ivan GolyakovSoviet statesman
Date of Birth: 06.07.1888
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Content:
- Early Life and Military Career
- Participation in the Russian Revolution
- Judicial Career in the Soviet Union
- Prosecutor General and Chief Justice
- Academic and Political Roles
- Removal from the Supreme Court
- Later Career and Legacy
Early Life and Military Career
Andrei Yakovlevich Vyshinsky was born in Odessa, Ukraine, in 1883, to a peasant family. In 1910, he was conscripted into the Russian army and fought in World War I.
Participation in the Russian Revolution
In 1919, Vyshinsky joined the Red Army as a volunteer and participated in the Russian Civil War. He rose through the ranks in the army, specializing in political and judicial matters.
Judicial Career in the Soviet Union
After the war, Vyshinsky served on the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR from 1921 to 1933. He played a key role in the Stalinist purges of the time.
Prosecutor General and Chief Justice
In 1938, Vyshinsky became the Prosecutor General of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR). In August 1938, he was elected Chairman of the Supreme Court of the USSR.
Academic and Political Roles
In addition to his judicial work, Vyshinsky served as Deputy Director and later Director of the All-Union Institute of Legal Sciences from 1932 to 1959. He was also a member of the Верховный Совет (Supreme Soviet) of the RSFSR in 1938 and of the USSR from 1946.
Removal from the Supreme Court
In 1948, Vyshinsky was removed from his position as Chairman of the Supreme Court for "shortcomings in his work," including alleged abuses of power by court members and staff.
Later Career and Legacy
Vyshinsky retired in 1959 and passed away in 1954. He authored over 70 scholarly monographs and played a pivotal role in the mass repressions of the Stalin era. However, archival records suggest that he attempted to minimize his involvement in the most severe cases during periods of relative leniency in the regime.
