Michael Plisetski
Encyclopedia
Mikhail Emmanuilovich Plisetski ( (1899—1938) was a Soviet diplomat.
In 1918 Michael was in the army and participated in Civil War in Russia. He joined the communist party
the following year. After the civil war Michael Plisetski studied at the Economic Institute and worked in the Commissariat
s of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
In 1932-1936 — headed the Soviet coal mines at Barentsburg
on the Norwegian
island of Spitsbergen
where he managed the coal concessions (trust "Arctic-carbon"). He also served as the Consul General
of the USSR
to the island.
He was purged
and arrested on April 30, 1937, charged with espionage, and executed on January 8, 1938.. As millions of other Russian political prisoners and victims of political repressions, Michael Plisetski was rehabilitated by the Soviet authorities on March 3, 1956.
According to his daughter
, the arrest was triggered by Mikhail's meeting in 1934 with his elder brother Lester Plesent, who had been living in the USA since 1912. Other sources suggest that his arrest may have been related to his hiring Richard Pikel, the former secretary of Grigory Zinoviev
, who both were also purged
and executed.
actress Rachel Messerer
. They had three children: daughter Maya Plisetskaya
(b. 1925) - famous ballerina
, and sons Alexander Plisetski
(1931—1985) - a well-known balletmaster, and Azari Plisetski (b. 1937) - a choreographer.
Michael had two brothers: Israel Plisetski (after moving to USA in 1912 — Lester Plesent) and Vladimir Plesent, an alumnus of The Moscow Institute of Cinematography
, actor, stuntman
. Vladimir served in special Air Forces during World War II and was killed in action.
Michael also had two sisters: Elizabeth (married name Ezerskaya) and Maria (married name Levitin).
Biography
Michael Plisetski was born in Gomel to the family of Mendel Plisetski and his wife Sima (née Markovsky). Michael's parents moved to USA in 1906.In 1918 Michael was in the army and participated in Civil War in Russia. He joined the communist party
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
the following year. After the civil war Michael Plisetski studied at the Economic Institute and worked in the Commissariat
Commissariat
A commissariat is the department of an army charged with the provision of supplies, both food and forage, for the troops. The supply of military stores such as ammunition is not included in the duties of a commissariat. In almost every army the duties of transport and supply are performed by the...
s of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
In 1932-1936 — headed the Soviet coal mines at Barentsburg
Barentsburg
Barentsburg is the second largest settlement on Svalbard, with about 500 inhabitants , almost entirely Russians and Ukrainians. The Russian-owned Arktikugol has been mining coal here since 1932.-Status:...
on the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
island of Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen is the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. Constituting the western-most bulk of the archipelago, it borders the Arctic Ocean, the Norwegian Sea and the Greenland Sea...
where he managed the coal concessions (trust "Arctic-carbon"). He also served as the Consul General
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
of the USSR
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
to the island.
He was purged
Great Purge
The Great Purge was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin from 1936 to 1938...
and arrested on April 30, 1937, charged with espionage, and executed on January 8, 1938.. As millions of other Russian political prisoners and victims of political repressions, Michael Plisetski was rehabilitated by the Soviet authorities on March 3, 1956.
According to his daughter
Maya Plisetskaya
Maya Mikhailovna Plisetskaya , born is a Russian ballet dancer, frequently cited as one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century. Maya danced during the Soviet era at the same time as the great Galina Ulanova, and took over from her as prima ballerina assoluta of the Bolshoi in 1960...
, the arrest was triggered by Mikhail's meeting in 1934 with his elder brother Lester Plesent, who had been living in the USA since 1912. Other sources suggest that his arrest may have been related to his hiring Richard Pikel, the former secretary of Grigory Zinoviev
Grigory Zinoviev
Grigory Yevseevich Zinoviev , born Ovsei-Gershon Aronovich Radomyslsky Apfelbaum , was a Bolshevik revolutionary and a Soviet Communist politician...
, who both were also purged
Great Purge
The Great Purge was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin from 1936 to 1938...
and executed.
Family
Michael Plisetski was married to Russian silent filmSilent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
actress Rachel Messerer
Rachel Messerer
Rachel Messerer - Plisetskaya ; born 4 March 1902, — 20 March 1993) — was a Russian silent film and theatre actress.- Family :Rachel Messerer was born in Vilno into the family of a dentist Mikhail Messerer and his wife Sima Shabad and was one of nine children...
. They had three children: daughter Maya Plisetskaya
Maya Plisetskaya
Maya Mikhailovna Plisetskaya , born is a Russian ballet dancer, frequently cited as one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century. Maya danced during the Soviet era at the same time as the great Galina Ulanova, and took over from her as prima ballerina assoluta of the Bolshoi in 1960...
(b. 1925) - famous ballerina
Ballerina
A ballerina is a title used to describe a principal female professional ballet dancer in a large company; the male equivalent to this title is danseur or ballerino...
, and sons Alexander Plisetski
Alexander Plisetski
Alexander Plisetski was a prominent Russian balletmaster and choreographer and a younger brother of the famous Russian ballerina Maya Plisetskaya.- Family :...
(1931—1985) - a well-known balletmaster, and Azari Plisetski (b. 1937) - a choreographer.
Michael had two brothers: Israel Plisetski (after moving to USA in 1912 — Lester Plesent) and Vladimir Plesent, an alumnus of The Moscow Institute of Cinematography
Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography
The Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography All-Russian State University of Cinematography named after S. A. Gerasimov), VGIK for short, is a film school in Moscow, Russia.-History:...
, actor, stuntman
Stuntman
A stuntman or stunt performer is someone who performs dangerous stunts.Stuntman may also refer to:*The Stunt Man, a 1980 film starring Peter O'Toole*Stuntman , a 2002 video game**Stuntman: Ignition, its sequel...
. Vladimir served in special Air Forces during World War II and was killed in action.
Michael also had two sisters: Elizabeth (married name Ezerskaya) and Maria (married name Levitin).