Letter to V.M. Molotov, August 13, 1930

Source: Tom 17

Vyacheslav!

1) Don't you find it more than strange that the Siberians kept silent and did not demand the removal of Eikhe as long as the Siberian Regional Committee encompassed both halves of Siberia, but now that Siberia has been split into two parts and the area of activity of the Siberian Regional Committee has been cut in half (i.e., the work of the Siberian Region has been made easier), Eikhe has suddenly turned out to be "unable to cope" with his tasks? I have no doubt that what we have here is a crudely disguised attempt to deceive the CC and create "their own" cliquish regional committee. I advise you to kick out all the intriguers, and above all Klimenko (Ukrainian "methods" of subversion!) along with all the Bazovskys, Lyaskutkins, Kuznetsovs, and the like, and to give full confidence to Eikhe, so that in future the various intriguers will not dare to slander honest workers and deceive the CC.

2) It is absolutely necessary to publish in full (in Pravda) the CC VKP(b) resolution on Azerbaijan. The Transcaucasian schemers have presented matters in their own resolution (which has already been published) in such a way that Gikalo has turned out to be the main culprit (since he heads the list of those recalled), while the main culprits (Amas and others) have turned out to be secondary offenders, almost pupils of Gikalo. To break through this scheming (fraud), the CC VKP(b) decision must be published.

3) The Politburo acted entirely correctly in separating Maykop from Grozny.

That is all for now. Warm regards.

P.S. I am getting better little by little.

13/VIII-30.

I. Stalin

Source: Letters of I.V. Stalin to V.M. Molotov. 1925-1936. Pp. 196-197.

RGASPI. F. 558. Op. 1. D. 5388.