born March 29, 1899, Merkheuli, Russia
died Dec. 23, 1953, Moscow, Russia, U.S.S.R.
Soviet politician and director of the Soviet secret police.
He worked in intelligence and counterintelligence activities from 1921. As Communist Party head of the Transcaucasian republics (1932–38), he personally oversaw the political purges initiated by purge trials ). He was head of the Soviet secret police (1938–53), and after Stalin's death he became one of four deputy prime ministers and the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. After attempting to succeed Stalin as sole dictator, he was arrested and executed.