One of Russia's first Marxists, from Narodnaya Volya to leader of the 1905 Chita Republic
Old Tiflis workers recalled: 'On any argument or discussion, all the comrades turned to Kurnatovsky. His conclusions and judgments were always accepted without argument.'
A Narodnaya Volya activist who turned to Marxism, Kurnatovsky worked with Plekhanov's Emancipation of Labour group in Geneva and met Lenin in Minusinsk exile, where he co-signed the 'Protest of Russian Social Democrats.' In 1900 he became Iskra's representative in the Caucasus, founded the Tiflis Committee of the RSDLP, and served as young Stalin's 'party teacher.' During the 1905 revolution he organized the Soviet of Workers', Soldiers' and Cossacks' Deputies in Chita and led the armed uprising known as the 'Chita Republic.' Sentenced to death, then commuted to life at hard labor, he escaped via Japan and died in Parisian exile at 44.
Career Timeline
- 1887–1889Narodnaya Volya activist; expelled from St. Petersburg and Moscow universities and exiled
- 1892–1897Zurich Polytechnic graduate (chemical engineering); joins Plekhanov's Emancipation of Labour
- 1898–1900Minusinsk exile; meets Lenin, co-signs 'Protest of Russian Social Democrats'
- 1900–1901Iskra representative in Caucasus; founds Tiflis RSDLP Committee
- 1904Leads armed protest of Yakutsk political exiles; imprisoned at Akatuy katorga
- 1905–1906Organizes Chita Soviet of Workers', Soldiers' & Cossacks' Deputies; leads 'Chita Republic' uprising; edits Zabaykalsky Rabochy
- 1906–1912Death sentence commuted to life katorga; escapes via Japan; dies in Paris exile