Grigory Kaminsky


Grigory Naumovich Kaminsky, was the 2nd First Secretary of Azerbaijan Communist Party, Soviet politician and one of founders of the health care system in The Soviet Union.

Early life

Kaminsky was born in the family of a Jewish blacksmith in Ekaterinoslav, Ukraine. He graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University with a degree in Medical Studies. Kaminsky was an active participant of youth revolutionary movement.

Political career

In 1917, he became a member of Moscow bureau of Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, secretary of the party committee in Tula and served in administration of the 2nd army. In 1920-1921, Kaminsky was the First Secretary of Azerbaijan Communist Party, chairman of the Baku Commune and Red Army deputies. From 1922 through 1929, he was the chairman of Central Committee of Vserabotzemles trade union and a chairman of kolkhoz center.
In 1930, he was appointed the Secretary of Moscow State Committee of the Communist Party. In 1934-1936, he served as the People's Commissar of Health of Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and Chief Sanitary Inspector and in 1936-1937 - as People's Commissar of Health Care of Soviet Union. He's credited with extensive work in establishing production of medicine, preparation of medical personnel, fighting malaria in Soviet Union and promotion of medical science in education system.

Death

After Kaminsky' controversial speech about wrongful arrests of people by NKVD, he was arrested on June 25, 1937 and sentenced to death on February 8, 1938. He was executed by firing squad. He was posthumously rehabilitated on 2 March 1955.