"Rasmeko case": from the history of the customs of the Russian bureaucracy and the struggle against bribery (1918)

This article based on unknown archival documents looks at one of the first celebrated cases of the Soviet justice..RASMEKO case. (1918). It was case on charge of officials of the Central administrative board on supply by metals (RASMEKO) of National Economy High Council (VSNKh) with speculation and bribe extortion. The basic attention is paid to the economic, political and bureaucratic circumstances of occurrence of the case, preliminary investigation, carried on by the Department on struggle against speculation of the All-Russia Extreme Commission (VChK), proceeding in the Revolutionary Tribunal under the All-Russia Central Executive Committee (VTsIK), position and argumentation of the accused persons. Author comes to the conclusion that the real underlying reason of the celebrated show trial under the slogan of the struggle against speculation and bribery was the struggle of one officials against another officials for the opportunity to adjust.mutually advantageous cooperation. with the private businessmen.