Nikolai Vlasik

Nikolai Vlasik (Russian: Никола́й Си́дорович Вла́сик) (1896–1967) was a Soviet security official and General, best known as a head of Joseph Stalin's personal security from 1931 to 1952.

He was born in the village of Bobynichi in the Slonim district of Hrodna province (in present-day Hrodna Voblast, Belarus) on May 22, 1896 and died on June 18, 1967 in Moscow. He had a rank of Lieutenant-General.

Military career

Vlasik's military career had an early beginning. In March 1915, he was called into the army, and by the triumph of the Great October Socialist Revolution, was already appointed to the rank of corporal. In November 1917, he began serving in the Moscow militia. In September 1919, he was transferred to Cheka. By January 1926, he had made an impetuous career and became the senior representative of the Operative branch of OGPU. Furthermore, Vlasik held supervising posts in the operations section, which included the protection of the heads of the party and government.

For many years, Vlasik was chief of Stalin's personal protective service in Kremlin, beginning in 1931 (this service was subordinated directly to Stalin and independent on the secret police NKVD). He also became, in essence, a member of the family. After the death of Stalin’s wife, Nadezhda Alliluyeva, he was also the tutor of Stalin’s children, practically carried out the functions of a major-domo.

In the memoirs of Stalin’s daughter, Svetlana Allilueva, she characterizes Vlasik as an "illiterate, silly, rough and extremely impudent despot". As she said he was so corrupted with authority, that "he began to dictate to art workers and arts, tastes of comrade Stalin", and "...figures listened and followed his councils. Any celebratory concert at the Big Theatre or Georgia’s Hall did not take place without the sanction of Vlasik".

Arrest

On December 15, 1952 Vlasik was removed from his position and soon arrested on false charges in connection with the Doctors plot. Immediately after Stalin's death, all of the accused doctors were released and charges against them dropped. However Vlasik wasn't released and charges against him changed to abuse of power and embezzlement. In 1955 he was stripped of his General rank and all medals, and exciled for ten years to Krasnoyarsk. In accordiance with an earlier (March 27, 1953) amnesty, Vlasik's sentence was reduced to five years. In 1956, Vlasik was pardoned but his rank was not reinstated. In 2000 his sentence was annulled and he was completely exonerated.

In his memoirs Vlasik wrote, "I have been severely offended by Stalin. For 25 years of doing an excellent job, not doing any collecting but only one encouragement and awards, I have been excluded from a party and it is flung in prison. For my boundless fidelity he has given me into the charge of my enemies. But never, for any minute of the condition I was in, to what to mockeries I was exposed while in prison, had I in my soul any harm against Stalin".^[1]

According to his wife, Vlasik was convinced that Lavrentiy Beria "helped" Stalin die.

Awards

Vlasik was conferred the Order of Lenin (three awards),

• Order of the Red Banner (four awards),
• Order of Kutuzov 1st class,

and other various medals.

Sources

1. ^ Власик Н. С. Моя биография //Логинов В. Тени Сталина. М., 2000. С. 136.

References

• Л.Колесник. Главный телохранитель Сталина (Судебное дело Н.С.Власика)

Persondata
Name	Vlasik, Nikolai
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1896
Place of birth	Russia
Date of death	1967
Place of death	Russia