RUSSIA: They Always Confess

Another Red record was added last week to the 117 executions and 97 other sentences meted out by Soviet star-chamber courts after the assassination of Dictator Joseph Stalin's "Dear Friend Sergei" Kirov (TIME, Dec. 10). For the first time since the Russian Revolution of 1917, eminent agents of the dread Gay-pay-oo or secret police were themselves dragged before one of the drumhead courts they have made odious.

Up before famed Judge Vassily Ulrich, "Stalin's Executioner," stood Comrade Feodor Medved, Chief of the Gay-pay-op in Leningrad where Kirov was assassinated. With Comrade Medved...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!