V. V. Vorovsky
Encyclopedia
Vatslav Vatslavovich Vorovsky (Russian: Ва́цлав Ва́цлавович Воро́вский; Polish: Wacław Worowski) (1871 - 1923) was a Marxist revolutionary, literary critic, and Soviet Russian
diplomat
. One of the first Soviet diplomats, Vorovsky is best remembered as the victim of a May 1923 political assassination
in Lausanne
, Switzerland
, where he was the official representative of the Soviet government to the Lausanne conference
.
engineer
. Following the completion of secondary school
, Vorovsky enrolled at the University of Moscow, where he was exposed to the ideas of political radicalism.
. Upon his release, Vorovsky adopted a new underground pseudonym
, "P. Orlovsky," as a tribute to this experience. During the course of his underground career, Vorovsky also used the pseudonyms "Y. Adamovich," "M. Schwarz," "Josephine," and "Felix Alexandrovich."
Vorovsky emigrated to Europe in 1902, spending time in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. In 1903 he affiliated himself with the Bolshevik
faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party, becoming an editor of the official organ of the party, Vperëd (Forward), in 1905.
During the Russian Revolution of 1905
, Vorovsky returned to Russia, working actively as a revolutionary in St. Petersburg. Following the defeat of the 1905 uprising he moved to Odessa
in the Ukraine
, where he was a leading underground Bolshevik from 1907 to 1912.
In 1912, Vorovsky was arrested again, this time to be deported to Europe.
Vorovsky returned to Russia in 1915, landing in Petrograd — the new name of St. Petersburg — but he was soon sent to Stockholm
by a business firm.
, remaining based in Stockholm. In Stockholm, Vorovsky was the point of contact between the new Bolshevik government and representatives of the government of Germany, being introduced by Alexander Parvus
to such luminaries of the German Social-Democratic Party as Philipp Scheidemann
during November and December 1917.
In December 1918, Sweden, responding to pressure on the part of the Allied powers who were intent upon imposing an unbreakable blockade, withdrew official recognition of Vorovsky as the representatiive of Soviet Russia. This action on the part of the Swedish government forced Vorovsky's return to Russia the following month. This action taken against Vorovsky followed the precedent followed by Great Britain in expelling Maxim Litvinov
in September 1918 and that of Germany in expelling Adolph Joffe
in November of that same year.
In March 1919, Vorovsky served as a member of the Soviet delegation to the Founding Congress
of the Communist International. He was named the representative of the Russian Communist Party to the Executive Committee of the Comintern
. He also served as one of the secretaries of the organization, along with Angelica Balabanova
. Grigorii Zinoviev
was tapped as president of the organization.
In July 1920, Vorovsky resumed work as a Soviet diplomat, participating in diplomatic negotiations with Poland
.
From 1921 to 1923, Vorovsky was the Soviet representative to Italy. In that capacity he was involved in attempts at negotiation of a trade agreement between the two countries, with a preliminary pact signed in December 1921. This success proved short-lived, however, as negotiations to extend the six month treaty failed in May 1922.
Vorovsky was a member of the Soviet delegation to the 1922 Genoa Conference, a group headed by Soviet Foreign Minister Georgii Chicherin
.
of 1923. Accompanied by two diplomatic attachés, Vorovsky arrived in Lausanne from Rome on April 27, hoping to force the conference's official participants to recognize Soviet interests in the Turkish Black Sea Straits
.
On May 9, Vorovsky dispatched his final report to Moscow, noting that three days earlier a group of right wing youths had appeared at his hotel and sought a meeting. Vorovsky wrote:
On the evening of May 10, 1923, Vorovsky was seated at a dining table in the restaurant of his hotel with his colleagues when the group was approached by an individual they did not know. The unknown figure, a Russian White émigré
named Conradi, pulled a gun and shot Vorovsky to death, wounding his two companions in the attack.
Vatslav Vorovsky was 51 years old at the time of his death.
Soviet Russia
Soviet Russia usually refers to the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, one of the fifteen republics of the Soviet Union. It may also denote:* Soviet Russia , magazine of the Friends of Soviet Russia in the United States...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. One of the first Soviet diplomats, Vorovsky is best remembered as the victim of a May 1923 political assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
in Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, where he was the official representative of the Soviet government to the Lausanne conference
Lausanne Conference
Conferences held in Lausanne, Switzerland include the:*Lausanne Conference was the First International Congress on World Evangelization*Lausanne Conference, 1949 related to Palestinian-Jewish negotiations and the 1949 Armistice Agreements...
.
Early years
Vatslav Vorovsky was born October 27, 1871 (n.s.) in Moscow, the son of an ethnic PolishPoles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
. Following the completion of secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
, Vorovsky enrolled at the University of Moscow, where he was exposed to the ideas of political radicalism.
Political career
Vorovsky became active in the socialist movement in 1895. He was arrested by the Tsarist secret police shortly thereafter and sentenced to three years' exile in the city of OrlovOrlov, Russia
Orlov is a town and the administrative center of Orlovsky District of Kirov Oblast, Russia, situated on the right bank of the Vyatka River, west of Kirov. Population: It was first mentioned in 1459. Town status was granted to it in 1780...
. Upon his release, Vorovsky adopted a new underground pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
, "P. Orlovsky," as a tribute to this experience. During the course of his underground career, Vorovsky also used the pseudonyms "Y. Adamovich," "M. Schwarz," "Josephine," and "Felix Alexandrovich."
Vorovsky emigrated to Europe in 1902, spending time in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. In 1903 he affiliated himself with the Bolshevik
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....
faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party, becoming an editor of the official organ of the party, Vperëd (Forward), in 1905.
During the Russian Revolution of 1905
Russian Revolution of 1905
The 1905 Russian Revolution was a wave of mass political and social unrest that spread through vast areas of the Russian Empire. Some of it was directed against the government, while some was undirected. It included worker strikes, peasant unrest, and military mutinies...
, Vorovsky returned to Russia, working actively as a revolutionary in St. Petersburg. Following the defeat of the 1905 uprising he moved to Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
in the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, where he was a leading underground Bolshevik from 1907 to 1912.
In 1912, Vorovsky was arrested again, this time to be deported to Europe.
Vorovsky returned to Russia in 1915, landing in Petrograd — the new name of St. Petersburg — but he was soon sent to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
by a business firm.
Diplomatic career
Following the victory of the Bolshevik Revolution in November 1917, Vorovsky was named the Soviet government's diplomatic representative to ScandinaviaScandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, remaining based in Stockholm. In Stockholm, Vorovsky was the point of contact between the new Bolshevik government and representatives of the government of Germany, being introduced by Alexander Parvus
Alexander Parvus
Alexander Lvovich Parvus , born Israel Lazarevich Gelfand , was a Marxist theoretician, a Russian revolutionary, and a controversial activist in the Social Democratic Party of Germany...
to such luminaries of the German Social-Democratic Party as Philipp Scheidemann
Philipp Scheidemann
Philipp Scheidemann was a German Social Democratic politician, who proclaimed the Republic on 9 November 1918, and who became the second Chancellor of the Weimar Republic....
during November and December 1917.
In December 1918, Sweden, responding to pressure on the part of the Allied powers who were intent upon imposing an unbreakable blockade, withdrew official recognition of Vorovsky as the representatiive of Soviet Russia. This action on the part of the Swedish government forced Vorovsky's return to Russia the following month. This action taken against Vorovsky followed the precedent followed by Great Britain in expelling Maxim Litvinov
Maxim Litvinov
Maxim Maximovich Litvinov was a Russian revolutionary and prominent Soviet diplomat.- Early life and first exile :...
in September 1918 and that of Germany in expelling Adolph Joffe
Adolph Joffe
Adolph Abramovich Joffe was a Communist revolutionary, a Bolshevik politician and a Soviet diplomat of Karaim descent.-Revolutionary career:...
in November of that same year.
In March 1919, Vorovsky served as a member of the Soviet delegation to the Founding Congress
Founding Congress of the Comintern
The Founding Congress of the Comintern was an international gathering of communist, revolutionary socialist, and syndicalist delegates held in Moscow which established the Communist International...
of the Communist International. He was named the representative of the Russian Communist Party to the Executive Committee of the Comintern
Executive Committee of the Communist International
The Executive Committee of the Communist International, commonly known by its acronym, ECCI, was the governing authority of the Comintern between the World Congresses of that body...
. He also served as one of the secretaries of the organization, along with Angelica Balabanova
Angelica Balabanoff
Angelica Balabanoff was a Jewish-Italian communist and social democratic activist.-Revolutionary activities:...
. Grigorii Zinoviev
Grigory Zinoviev
Grigory Yevseevich Zinoviev , born Ovsei-Gershon Aronovich Radomyslsky Apfelbaum , was a Bolshevik revolutionary and a Soviet Communist politician...
was tapped as president of the organization.
In July 1920, Vorovsky resumed work as a Soviet diplomat, participating in diplomatic negotiations with Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
From 1921 to 1923, Vorovsky was the Soviet representative to Italy. In that capacity he was involved in attempts at negotiation of a trade agreement between the two countries, with a preliminary pact signed in December 1921. This success proved short-lived, however, as negotiations to extend the six month treaty failed in May 1922.
Vorovsky was a member of the Soviet delegation to the 1922 Genoa Conference, a group headed by Soviet Foreign Minister Georgii Chicherin
Georgy Chicherin
Georgy Vasilyevich Chicherin was a Marxist revolutionary and a Soviet politician. He served as People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs in the Soviet government from March 1918 to 1930.-Childhood and early career:...
.
Death and legacy
Vorovsky's final diplomatic mission came in the spring of 1923, when he served as Soviet representative to the Lausanne conferenceLausanne Conference
Conferences held in Lausanne, Switzerland include the:*Lausanne Conference was the First International Congress on World Evangelization*Lausanne Conference, 1949 related to Palestinian-Jewish negotiations and the 1949 Armistice Agreements...
of 1923. Accompanied by two diplomatic attachés, Vorovsky arrived in Lausanne from Rome on April 27, hoping to force the conference's official participants to recognize Soviet interests in the Turkish Black Sea Straits
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
.
On May 9, Vorovsky dispatched his final report to Moscow, noting that three days earlier a group of right wing youths had appeared at his hotel and sought a meeting. Vorovsky wrote:
"I refused to receive them, and Comrade Ahrens, who went out to them to find out what it was all about, disposed of them at once, telling them that they should put such matters before their Government. Now they are going about the town declaring that they will compel us to leave Switzerland by force, and so on.
"As to whether the police are taking any measures for our safety, we have no idea. At any rate, it is not apparent on the surface. It is only too evident that behind these hooligan boys there is some conscious directing hand — possibly foreign. The Swiss Government, well aware of what is going on — for the papers are full of it — must bear responsibility for our safety. The behaviour of the Swiss Government is a shameful violation of the guarantees given at the beginning of the conference, and any attack on us in this particularly well-organised country is only possible with the knowledge and permission of the authorities. On them is the responsibility."
On the evening of May 10, 1923, Vorovsky was seated at a dining table in the restaurant of his hotel with his colleagues when the group was approached by an individual they did not know. The unknown figure, a Russian White émigré
White Emigre
A white émigré was a Russian who emigrated from Russia in the wake of the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War, and who was in opposition to the contemporary Russian political climate....
named Conradi, pulled a gun and shot Vorovsky to death, wounding his two companions in the attack.
Vatslav Vorovsky was 51 years old at the time of his death.
Works
- Советъ против партии (The Council against the Party). Geneva: Bonch-Bruevich and Lenin Publishing House of Social-Democratic Party Literature, November 1904. —Reissued by Partizdat, 1933.
- Литературно-критические статьи (Literary-Critical Articles). Moscow: Gospolitizdat, 1948.
Further reading
- N.F. Piiashev, Воровский (Vorovsky). Moscow: Molodaia gvardia, 1959.