Vitaly Primakov

Vitaly Primakov was born in 1897 in Semenivka, Novozybkovsky Uyezd, Chernigov Governorate in a family of a teacher with Russian background.[1] In 1914 he joined the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party and was exiled to Siberia for political reasons in 1915.

Primakov was released from exile during February Revolution in 1917. He became a member of Kiev's Bolshevik committee. In August 1917 he was conscripted into the Russian Army. While being a delegate of Second Congress of Soviets in Petrograd he was assigned commander of one of the squadrons participating in the assault on the Winter Palace. Then he led Red Army squadrons during fights with troops of General Krasnov near Gatchina.

In February 1918, using cossack troops that crossed over to the communists, he formed regiment of Red Cossacks. In August 1919, Primakov became commander of the brigade. In October 1919, he was appointed commander of Eighth Cavalry Division. In October 1920, Primakov became the commander of First Corps of Red Cossacks.

For a successful breach of White Army defense line near Fatezh in November 1919, he was awarded first Order of the Red Banner. Second Order of the Red Banner was awarded to Primakov for combat near Proskurov. Primakov received the third Order of the Red Banner for fighting Basmachi Revolt in Central Asia.

In 1923 Primakov graduated Higher Academic Military Courses at RKKA. In 1924-25 he was the head of the Highest Cavalry school in Leningrad.

In 1925, he was sent to China to be military advisor of Chinese First National Army. In 1927, he was appointed military attaché in Afghanistan. In 1929 under disguise of Turkish officer Ragib-bey he led a military operation of Soviet troops to reinstate Amanullah Khan as ruler of Afghanistan. In 1930, he was sent to Japan as military attaché there.

In 1931-33, Primakov was commander of the Thirteenth Infantry Corps. In February 1933 he became deputy of commander of North-Caucasian military district. In December 1934, he was appointed inspector of higher education institutions of Red Army. In January 1935, he became deputy of commander of Leningrad Military District.

Primakov was arrested on 14 August 1936. He was subjected to torture and pleaded guilty of being part of Trotskyist Anti-Soviet Military Organization and testified against many Soviet military commanders.

He was found guilty and sentenced to death on 11 June 1937.

Primakov was rehabilitated posthumously in 1957.

Primakov was married three times.

Once he was married to Oksana Kotsyubynska, the daughter of Mykhailo Kotsyubynsky.

Last time in 1930 he married Lilya Brik, longtime love of Vladimir Mayakovsky.

• https://web.archive.org/web/20090427001148/http://www.focus.in.ua/article/17229.html (in Russian)
• http://www.knowbysight.info/PPP/03824.asp (in Russian)
• Interview with Yuri Primakov