Emiliia Teumin

Journalist and editor. A member of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) since 1927. From 1941 to 1945, she served as editor of the international department of the Soviet Information Bureau (Sovinformburo).

She was arrested in January 1949 as part of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee case–the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee being a public organization established in 1942 to raise support for the Soviet Union from ‘Jewish brothers throughout the world’. She was accused of passing ‘espionage materials on the situation in the Soviet Baltic republics’ to US intelligence. The testimony against her was fabricated, and she was subjected to beatings and torture. The trial was held behind closed doors–without the public, the prosecution, or the defense present. In July 1952, she was sentenced to death by firing squad with confiscation of property. She was executed on 12 August 1952. Her ashes were buried in Common Grave No. 3 for unclaimed remains at the New Donskoy Cemetery in Moscow. She was rehabilitated in 1955.

1950s

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The Final Statement

‘I always tried to make use of every possible opportunity to fulfill the tasks entrusted to me by the Party.’

I want to tell the court that, when I gave Goldberg the information sheet on the Baltic republics, I believed that I was doing something useful for the Soviet Union. I wanted to use Goldberg for the purpose of promoting the achievements of the Soviet Union, just as I had previously used many other foreign correspondents and journalists. I always tried to make use of every possible opportunity to fulfill the tasks entrusted to me by the Party. In the episode involving Goldberg, I showed political shortsightedness and fell into the trap set by an American spy and intelligence agent.

The only joy in my life was my work, and I took pride in it. I still hope that I will be able to atone for this mistake through further honest work.

My second fault lies in the fact that, on three occasions, I failed to oppose the nationalist remarks made by Fefer and Mikhoels, but I declare that I myself was never a nationalist.

I ask the court to take all of this into consideration when making its decision regarding me.

11 July 1952,
Military Collegium of the Supreme Court, Moscow, USSR.
Source: Unjust Trial. The Last Stalin-Era Execution.
Further reading: Wikipedia.
Photo: Cyclowiki.