Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, Eastern Europe, The Soviet Union, Volume VI

861.00/8–246: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Durbrow) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, August 2, 1946.
[Received August 2—4:05 p.m.]

3076. Announcement of Military Collegium of Supreme Court of USSR published August 2 press follows in translation.

Recently Military Collegium of Supreme Court of USSR examined case against A. A. Vlasov, V. F. Malyshkin, G. H. Zhilenkov, F. I. Trukhin, D. E. Zakutny, I. A. Blagoveschensky, M. A. Meandrov, V. I. Maltsev, S. K. Bunyachenko, G. A. Zverov, V. C. Korbukov and N. S. Shatov for treason to fatherland and for carrying out as agents of German intelligence active espionage-diversionary and terroristic activity against Soviet Union, i.e., for crimes specified in Articles 58–1 “B”, 58–8, 58–10 and 58–11 of Criminal Code of USSR. All the accused confessed their guilt under charges brought against them. In accordance with point 1 of edict of Presidium of Supreme Soviet of USSR of April 1943,²⁵ Military Collegium of Supreme Court sentenced accused Vlasov, Malshkin, Zhilenkov, Trukhin, Zakutny, Blagoveschensky, Meandrov, Maltsev, Bunyachenko, Zverov, Korbukov and Shatov to death penalty by hanging. Sentence has been carried out.

Durbrow

25. For discussion about the ukaz of April 19, 1943, making possible the use of the death penalty, see Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. iii, p. 849, footnote 70.