Sergei Mironovich Kirov (real name Sergei Kostrikov) was born on 27 March 1886 in the city of Urzhum, Vyatka province (now Kirov region) in a middle-class family. Sergei lost his parents at an early age and was raised, along his two sisters Anna and Elizabeth, by his grandmother Melania Avdeyevna. He was sent to the "House of Charity for young orphans" and in 1901 he graduated from City College. He later joined the lower Mechanical and Technical School of Kazan.
Following his graduation in 1904, Sergei moved to Tomsk and admitted at the Tomsk Technological Institute. Consequently he became a member of the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party (RSDRP) and began his activity at the clandestine printing-office. Due to his political activity he was arrested multiple times in 1905, 1906, 1907 and 1911. Between 1909 and 1917 Kostrikov lived in Vladikavkaz, working as a journalist for "Terek" newspaper. During this period he adopted the pseudonym "Kirov".
In the days of the February Revolution, Kirov joined the Vladikavkaz Soviet of Workers' Deputies. In October 1917 he was elected as a delegate at the 2nd All Russian Congress in Petrograd. In the following years he carried out a number of diplomatic assignments and participated in the establishment of Soviet power in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Kirov was one of the founders of the Transcaucasian Soviet Federative Republic (ZSFSR) in 1922. As a First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Bolsheviks (TSK KP (b)) of Azerbaijan Sergei Kirov managed the recovery and reconstruction of the region's oil industry.
In January 1926 he became the First Secretary of the Northwest Bureau of Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of the Bolsheviks. In February 1926 he became the first secretary of the Leningrad Provincial Committee. He played a significant role in the reconstruction of the economy of Leningrad and the Leningrad Region.
In December 1, 1934 Kirov was cowardly murdered in the Smolny by Leonid Nikolayev. The 1 of December 1934 the Decree "On procedure for the commission of terrorist acts" was published. It was signed by the Secretary of the Central Executive Committee Presidium of the USSR Yenukidze. According to this document, Kirov was the victim of conspirators - enemies of the Soviet Union.
Sergei was survived by his wife Maria Lvovna Markus (1885–1945) and their daughter, Yevgenia Kostrikova (1921–1975).
"Comrade Kirov was an example of Bolshevism"
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| Kirov with Stalin. |
"A great sorrow has befallen our Party. On December 1st, Comrade Kirov fell victim to the hand of an assassin, a scallawag sent by the class enemies. All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks)
The death of Kirov is an irreparable loss, not only for us, his close friends and comrades, but also for all those who have known him in his revolutionary work, and have known him as a fighter, comrade and friend. A man who has given all his brilliant life to the cause of the working class, to the cause of Communism, to the cause of the liberation of humanity, is dead, victim of the enemy.
Comrade Kirov was an example of Bolshevism, recognizing neither fear nor difficulties in the realizing of the great aim, fixed by the Party. His integrity, his will of iron, his astonishing qualities as an orator, inspired by the Revolution, were combined in him with such cordiality and such tenderness in his relations with his comrades and personal friends, with such warmth and modesty, all of which are traits of the true Leninist.
Comrade Kirov has worked in different parts of the U.S.S.R. in the period of illegality and after the October Revolution - at Tomsk and Astrakhan, at Vladicaucase and Baku - and everywhere he upheld the high standard of the Party; he has won for the Party millions of workers, due to his revolutionary work, indefatigable, energetic and fruitful.
During the last nine years, Comrade Kirov directed the organization of our Party in Lenin's town, and the region of Leningrad. There is no possibility, by means of a short and sad letter, to give an appreciation of his activities among the workers of Leningrad. It would have been difficult to find in our Party, a director who could be more successfully in harmony with the working class of Leningrad, who could so ably unite all the members of the Party and all the working class around the Party. He has created in the whole organization of Leningrad, this same atmosphere of organization, of discipline, of love and of Bolshevik devotion to the Revolution, which characterised Comrade Kirov himself.
You were near us all Comrade Kirov, as a trusted friend, as a loved comrade, as a faithful companion in arms. We will remember you, dear friend, till the end of our life and of our struggle and we feel bitterness at our loss. You were always with us in the difficult years of the struggle for the victory of Socialism in our country, you were always with us in the years of uncertainty and internal difficulties in our Party, you have lived with us all the difficulties of these last years, and we have lost you at the moment when our country has achieved great victories.
In all these struggles, in all our achievements, there is very much evidence of you, of your energy, your strength and your ardent love for the Communist cause.
Farewell, Sergei, our dear friend and comrade.
J. Stalin, S. Ordjonikidze, V. Molotov, M. Kalinin, K. Voroshilov, L. Kaganovich, A. Mikoyan, A. Andreyev, V. Tchoubar, A. Idanov, V. Kuibyshev, Ia. Roudzoutak, S. Kossior, P. Postychev, G. Petrovsky, A. Ienoukidze, M. Chkiriatov, Em. Iaroslavski, N. Ejov."
