Alexei Rykov
1881 – 1938 Russian Head of the Soviet government after Lenin
Lenin's successor as head of government, shot with Bukharin in 1938.
- Religion
- Russian Orthodox background; a militant atheist.
- Affiliations
- Bolshevik Party; chairman of the Council of People's Commissars; leader of the Right Opposition, then executed.
Rykov succeeded Lenin as chairman of the Soviet government and backed the moderate economic policy of the 1920s. He joined Bukharin in the Right Opposition against forced collectivization and was pushed out of power. He was condemned in the 1938 show trial and shot.
Connections
- rival of Joseph Stalin — Stalin removed then destroyed him in the last great purge trial.
- ally of Nikolai Bukharin — Fellow leader of the Right Opposition, tried and shot with him.
- successor of Vladimir Lenin — Took over the head of government post after Lenin's death.