Bolshevik revolutionary and metalworker from Lugansk, a leader of the Workers' Opposition
As one of the leaders of the Workers' Opposition in 1920–1921 he defended collegial management of industry and workers' interests, was defeated by Lenin at the 10th Party Congress, and, disillusioned with the NEP and the bureaucratization of the party, shot himself on 7 May 1924.
Born in 1887 in Lugansk, Yekaterinoslav Governorate, into a peasant family, he worked from childhood as a metal turner at the Lugansk cartridge factory. He joined the RSDLP in 1904, was exiled to Arkhangelsk and Yakutsk provinces and escaped twice, and during the reaction of 1907–1910 belonged to the SR party before returning to the Bolsheviks. In March 1917 he became a member of the Lugansk Bolshevik committee, in August was elected chairman of the metalworkers' union board, and in November was elected to the All-Russian Constituent Assembly. In March 1918 he headed the SNK of the Lugansk region and then became deputy chairman of the SNK of the Donets-Krivoy Rog Soviet Republic, and after the civil war he served on the VTsSPS presidium and as chairman of the Union of Communications Workers.
Career Timeline
- 1904Joined the RSDLP
- 1917Chairman of the Lugansk Metalworkers' Union and member of the Lugansk RSDLP(b) committee
- 1917.12Chairman of the Donets-Krivoy Rog regional trade-union committee
- 1918.3Chairman of the SNK of Lugansk Oblast
- 1918.4Deputy chairman of the SNK of the Donets-Krivoy Rog Soviet Republic
- 1918.7.12–10.17Member of the CC of the CP(b)U
- 1919.1.25–1921.5.17Member of the VTsSPS presidium
- 1919.12.10–1920.12.31Secretary of the VTsIK
- 1921.1.5–12.29Secretary of the VTsIK
- 1921–1922Deputy trade representative of the RSFSR in Germany
- 1922.9.22–1924.5.7Member of the VTsSPS presidium and chairman of the Central Committee of the Trade Union of Workers and Employees of Communications