CONTROVERSIA Help us
Portrait of Andrey Vlasov

Photo: Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia Commons

Born in Russia · Nationality Soviet — Politics / regimes / war

Andrey Vlasov

Authoritarian regimes, wars and mass atrocities

Documented profile covering 8 controversies, including “2001: Russian Supreme Court refuses rehabilitation, while overturning limited anti-Soviet propaganda charge” and “1946: secret Soviet treason trial and execution by hanging”.

Are you concerned? Right of reply

Profile No. 2586 · Updated on 12 October 2026

Portrait of Andrey Vlasov

Photo: Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia Commons
8Documented controversies+ 2 background events
6Sources
1 followed by a conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

Case · 6 documented stages

2001: Russian Supreme Court refuses rehabilitation, while overturning limited anti-Soviet propaganda charge

Conviction
01

1 November 2001

2001: Russian Supreme Court refuses rehabilitation, while overturning limited anti-Soviet propaganda charge

Conviction

The military division of the Russian Supreme Court refused to rehabilitate Vlasov and his co-defendants. It nevertheless overturned the charge under the article concerning anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda because no offence had been committed, while upholding the main judgment.

State of the evidence
Documented

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Encyclopedia of Russian History / Encyclopedia.comVlasov MovementEncyclopediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Nuremberg.MediaUSSR Reports on the Execution of Former General Andrey VlasovSecondary sourceHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

02

July–1 August 1946

1946: secret Soviet treason trial and execution by hanging

Conviction

The Military Collegium of the Soviet Supreme Court convicted Vlasov and several leaders of his movement of treason and other offences. They were hanged on 1 August 1946 following secret proceedings.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of State, Office of the HistorianForeign Relations of the United States, 1946, Volume VI — Vlasov trial referenceOfficial documentVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    Nuremberg.MediaUSSR Reports on the Execution of Former General Andrey VlasovSecondary sourceHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

03

April 1945

1945: KONR 1st Division deployed against Red Army on the Oder

Conviction

In spring 1945, a division of Vlasov's movement fought the Red Army on the Oder as part of the German war effort. The assault failed, and its commander Sergei Bunyachenko subsequently refused to sacrifice more of his men for a Reich in retreat.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Command responsibility

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Encyclopedia.comVlasov ArmiesEncyclopediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

05

May 1945

1945: attempted surrender to Western Allies and capture by Soviets

Formally charged

At Germany's surrender, Vlasov and his forces tried to reach American lines to avoid returning to the USSR. The attempt failed; Vlasov fell into Soviet hands and was sent to Moscow.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Encyclopedia of Russian History / Encyclopedia.comVlasov MovementEncyclopediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Encyclopedia.comVlasov ArmiesEncyclopediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

07

June–July 1942

1942: capture after collapse of 2nd Shock Army, followed by decision to cooperate with Germany

Conviction

Following the encirclement and collapse of the 2nd Shock Army, Vlasov was captured by the Germans. In captivity, he agreed to cooperate with German officers who led him to hope for a different policy towards Russians, and helped develop an anti-Stalinist movement.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Personally implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Encyclopedia of Russian History / Encyclopedia.comVlasov MovementEncyclopediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Encyclopedia.comVlasov ArmiesEncyclopediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

08

27 December 1942

1942: Smolensk Declaration calling for fight against Stalin alongside Germany

Conviction

On behalf of a “Russian Committee”, Vlasov signed the Smolensk Declaration, calling on Soviet citizens to fight Stalin's regime and proposing a future Russian Liberation Army allied with Germany.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    Encyclopedia of Russian History / Encyclopedia.comVlasov MovementEncyclopediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Encyclopedia.comVlasov ArmiesEncyclopediaHigh reliability
  3. [3]
    Cambridge University PressVlasov and the Russian Liberation MovementAcademic publicationVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

04

5–8 May 1945

1945: 1st Division turns against Germans during Prague uprising

No legal proceedings

In the final days of the war, the KONR's 1st Division abandoned its German sponsors and fought the Waffen-SS alongside Czech insurgents in Prague, helping to slow German forces.

State of the evidence
Documented

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    Encyclopedia of Russian History / Encyclopedia.comVlasov MovementEncyclopediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Encyclopedia.comVlasov ArmiesEncyclopediaHigh reliability
  3. [3]
    Radio Prague InternationalŘeporyje to build memorial honouring 'Vlasov' troops who helped in liberation of PragueBroadcastHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

06

14 November 1944

1944: Prague Manifesto — anti-Stalinist programme under German sponsorship

No legal proceedings

In Prague, the KONR proclaimed a manifesto promising, among other things, political freedoms, an end to collective farms and self-determination, while calling for Stalin's overthrow and maintaining military cooperation with Germany at war.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    Cambridge University PressVlasov and the Russian Liberation MovementAcademic publicationVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    Encyclopedia of Russian History / Encyclopedia.comVlasov MovementEncyclopediaHigh reliability
  3. [3]
    Encyclopedia.comVlasov ArmiesEncyclopediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

II. Documented background

Documented biographical or institutional milestones (elections, appointments, foundings, acquisitions…). These are not controversies and are not counted as such.

  1. 16 September–14 November 1944

    1944: agreement with Heinrich Himmler and creation of Committee for the Liberation of the Peoples of Russia (KONR)

    Faced with Germany's military collapse, Heinrich Himmler finally authorised Vlasov to establish the KONR and more autonomous Russian forces. Vlasov became its president and military leader, formalising late political and military collaboration with the SS apparatus.

    Sources · 2
    1. Encyclopedia of Russian History / Encyclopedia.com — Vlasov Movement
    2. Encyclopedia.com — Vlasov Armies
  2. 1943

    1943: propaganda tour in occupied territories, open letter and subsequent sidelining by Hitler

    Vlasov was allowed to tour occupied Soviet territories and published a letter explaining his struggle against Bolshevism. His message attracted sufficient interest to alarm Hitler, who then rejected the creation of a genuine autonomous Russian movement and restricted Vlasov's activities.

    Sources · 1
    1. Encyclopedia of Russian History / Encyclopedia.com — Vlasov Movement

III. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

IV. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.

Support the archive

Controversia checks and updates its profiles independently. Support is optional and has no effect on the content of profiles.

Donate

Update request

Andrey Vlasov

Say which controversy is concerned and, if possible, give a source. Between 10 and 2,500 characters.

0 / 2500

To prevent abuse, the approximate location of your connection is recorded with your request.

iPhone and iPad

Install Controversia

  1. Tap Share
  2. then Add to Home Screen

Tap Share, then Add to Home Screen.