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Portrait of Genrikh Yagoda

Photo: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain

Born in Russia · Nationality Russian — Politics / OGPU-NKVD / Gulag / repression

Genrikh Yagoda

Authoritarian regimes, wars and mass atrocitiesPolitics and government

Documented profile covering 9 controversies, including “1938: death sentence and execution; subsequent refusal of rehabilitation” and “1937–1938: arrest followed by third Moscow trial on charges of treason, conspiracy and murder”.

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Profile No. 2569 · Updated on 12 October 2026

Portrait of Genrikh Yagoda

Photo: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain
9Documented controversies
4Sources
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 · 2 documented stages

1938: death sentence and execution; subsequent refusal of rehabilitation

Conviction
01

13–15 March 1938 ; 1988

1938: death sentence and execution; subsequent refusal of rehabilitation

Conviction

Sentenced to death on 13 March 1938, Yagoda was executed on 15 March. Soviet judicial authorities subsequently refused to rehabilitate him, despite the discrediting of many Stalinist trials.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    Исторические МатериалыВыписки из документов по делу право-троцкистского блока. 14-15 марта 1938 г.Very high reliability
  2. [2]
    Encyclopedia of Russian History / Encyclopedia.comYagoda, Genrikh GrigorevichEncyclopediaHigh reliability
  3. [3]
    YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern EuropeIagoda, Genrikh Grigor’evichEncyclopediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

02

28 March 1937–13 March 1938

1937–1938: arrest followed by third Moscow trial on charges of treason, conspiracy and murder

Conviction

Yagoda was arrested and then tried alongside Bukharin, Rykov and others in the trial of the “Bloc of Rightists and Trotskyites”. The prosecution accused him of treason, sabotage, terrorism and several murders or attempted murders, among other offences.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Исторические МатериалыПротокол об объявлении Ягоде о завершении предварительного следствия. 25 февраля 1938 г.Very high reliability
  2. [2]
    Encyclopedia of Russian History / Encyclopedia.comYagoda, Genrikh GrigorevichEncyclopediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

03

1936

1936: preparation of first Moscow trial against Zinoviev, Kamenev and co-defendants

No legal proceedings

Yagoda worked with prosecutor Andrey Vyshinsky to prepare the first major Moscow show trial and personally conducted certain interrogations.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Encyclopedia of Russian History / Encyclopedia.comYagoda, Genrikh GrigorevichEncyclopediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern EuropeIagoda, Genrikh Grigor’evichEncyclopediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

04

September 1936

1936: removal from NKVD for “lack of zeal” in pursuing supposed enemies

No legal proceedings

Stalin considered Yagoda insufficiently effective against the alleged Trotskyist-Zinovievist bloc, replaced him with Yezhov and transferred him to the Commissariat of Communications.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Political responsibility

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Encyclopedia of Russian History / Encyclopedia.comYagoda, Genrikh GrigorevichEncyclopediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern EuropeIagoda, Genrikh Grigor’evichEncyclopediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

05

December 1934–1935

1934–1935: repression following Sergei Kirov's assassination and sharp increase in arrests

No legal proceedings

Following Kirov's assassination, the NKVD under Yagoda launched a campaign of terror against numerous party and state officials on Stalin's orders; arrests increased sharply.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Command responsibility

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Encyclopedia of Russian History / Encyclopedia.comYagoda, Genrikh GrigorevichEncyclopediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern EuropeIagoda, Genrikh Grigor’evichEncyclopediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

06

années 1920–1934

1920s–1934: rise through the Cheka/OGPU and participation in political repression

No legal proceedings

Yagoda rose through the ranks of the Cheka and then the OGPU, led departments responsible for monitoring the military and political and intellectual circles, and participated in the repression of opponents of the regime.

State of the evidence
Documented

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Encyclopedia of Russian History / Encyclopedia.comYagoda, Genrikh GrigorevichEncyclopediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern EuropeIagoda, Genrikh Grigor’evichEncyclopediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

07

1924–1934

1920s–1930s: persecution of non-Bolshevik Zionist and Jewish parties and organisations

No legal proceedings

YIVO research attributes to Yagoda personal involvement in the persecution and elimination of Zionist parties and organisations during his years at the OGPU.

State of the evidence
Documented

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern EuropeIagoda, Genrikh Grigor’evichEncyclopediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

08

1930–1934

1930–1934: Gulag expansion and extensive use of forced labour under his influence

No legal proceedings

While Yagoda was leading the punitive agencies, first in practice and then officially, the Gulag expanded considerably and forced labour became a major component of the Soviet economy.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Encyclopedia of Russian History / Encyclopedia.comYagoda, Genrikh GrigorevichEncyclopediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

09

1931–August 1933

1931–1933: White Sea–Baltic Canal constructed by Gulag prisoners

No legal proceedings

The White Sea–Baltic Canal was built at forced pace by prisoners within the OGPU system. Yagoda was among the leaders supervising this emblematic Soviet penal labour project, which was marked by high mortality.

State of the evidence
Well documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Encyclopedia of Russian History / Encyclopedia.comYagoda, Genrikh GrigorevichEncyclopediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

II. 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.

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