Purge" of the RCP (B) in Tomsk Province: 1920-1923

In the process of regulation of party organisations the Central Committee of the RCP (b) used the tactic of mass methods and total purges. Party organisations in Siberia were regulated the same way. Since January 1920 there was a rapid growth of the number of Communists in Tomsk Province, and already in 1920 by the first "purge" followed. The campaign was planned to finish in November 1920; in fact it was completed by the end of the year. The campaign was unsuccessful due to the lack of the local apparatus. The total number of Communists actually did not change. In August 1921 a Party-wide "purge" started. The number of Communists in the province decreased dramatically. The exception from the Party was accompanied by people's departure from the party by there own will. The "purge" was directed primarily against those social groups that party leader V. Lenin considered hostile. Among them were former military officers, police officers, wealthy peasants, believers, members of other parties. Many officers declared their loyalty, and went to serve the new government. However, fearing coup the governmental party did not trust officers. Also committees for purging the Party were suspicious to former members of other parties. Both of these social groups were carefully identified by party committees and special services for the removal from the RCP (B) and subsequent supervision. Regardless of the social status, drunkards, the corrupted, thieves, criminals, tax debtors, violators of party discipline, religious rites performers were expelled from the governmental party. Often the reason for the exception was formulated indefinably: "selfishness", "foreign element", "extra ballast". Among exceptional reasons were: murder, beating of detainees, denial of fighting against bandits, promotion of speculators, and agitation against the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks). The list of offences allowed by members of the ruling party suggests that the Communists did not have the necessary level of culture to build the rule of law. The norms of the party ethics remained uncertain, as foreclosures imposed by the Communists. In 1920 and 1921 there were mass purges. Later, mass campaigns were replaced by regular activities of the control committee, which included special party investigators. Expulsion from the party meant disqualification and dismissal. In terms of unemployment it was a pretty strict educational measure of the Communists.

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