Garegin Apresov

Garegin Abramovich Apresov (Russian: Гарегин Абрамович Апресов; 6 January 1890 – 11 September 1941) was a multifaceted figure of the Soviet era — a revolutionary, diplomat, intelligence officer, and Comintern representative whose work lay at the intersection of politics, ideology, and intelligence, and was primarily connected with the East. Before joining the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, he had extensive experience in political activities, including work in the government of Baku commissars, as well as active participation in the communist movement. As an expert on the East, he proved himself effective in operational work and propaganda. He worked in the USSR missions in Persia and China, holding posts including Chargé d'Affaires of the USSR in Persia, Consul General of the USSR in Urumqi and authorized representative of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) for Xinjiang (China). With personal access to Joseph Stalin, at the peak of his activities in Xinjiang, he had exceptional powers, effectively being the key representative of Soviet interests in the region. He was shot as part of Stalin's repressions.