Viktor Grishin
Encyclopedia
Viktor Vasilyevich Grishin (Ви́ктор Васи́льевич Гри́шин) (5 (18) September 1914 – 25 May 1992) was a Soviet
politician. He was a Candidate (1961-1971) and Full Member (1971–1986) of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
.
Grishin was born in Serpukhov
, Moscow Oblast
. He served in the Red Army
from 1938 until 1940. In 1941, he was a Communist Party functionary. He eventually rose to be the leader of the Communist Party
in the city of Moscow
from 1967 until 1985. He was renowned for his hardline stance.
During the final months of Konstantin Chernenko
's life, Grishin had been considered as a possible contender to succeed Chernenko as the General Secretary
and as a possible alternative to Mikhail Gorbachev
. In an attempt to stress his closeness to Chernenko, he dragged the terminally ill Soviet leader out to vote in early 1985. This action by Grishin backfired and was almost universally viewed as a cruel act. After Chernenko's death in March 1985, he declined to put himself forward as a candidate for succession and instead offered his support, albeit lukewarm, to Gorbachev. Gorbachev was subsequently unanimously elected as the General Secretary
.
In late-December 1985, Grishin was replaced by Boris Yeltsin
as the First Secretary of the Moscow Party Committee. Grishin lost his position as a member of the Politburo
soon thereafter.
In an interview with the conservative Russian newspaper Molodaya Gvardiya in 1991, he claims that the only reason he lost was because "younger Party leaders, such as Yegor Ligachev
, supported Gorbachev because they feared that if I had become Party boss, they would lose their posts."
On 25 May 1992, Grishin died at the age of 78. He suffered a heart attack at a welfare office in Moscow, where he went to register an increase in his state pension.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
politician. He was a Candidate (1961-1971) and Full Member (1971–1986) of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Politburo , known as the Presidium from 1952 to 1966, functioned as the central policymaking and governing body of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.-Duties and responsibilities:The...
.
Grishin was born in Serpukhov
Serpukhov
Serpukhov is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, which is situated at the confluence of the Oka and the Nara Rivers. It is located south from Moscow on the Moscow—Simferopol highway. The Moscow—Tula railway passes through the town. Population: -History:...
, Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast , or Podmoskovye , is a federal subject of Russia . Its area, at , is relatively small compared to other federal subjects, but it is one of the most densely populated regions in the country and, with the 2010 population of 7,092,941, is the second most populous federal subject...
. He served in the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
from 1938 until 1940. In 1941, he was a Communist Party functionary. He eventually rose to be the leader of the Communist Party
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
in the city of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
from 1967 until 1985. He was renowned for his hardline stance.
During the final months of Konstantin Chernenko
Konstantin Chernenko
Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko was a Soviet politician and the fifth General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He led the Soviet Union from 13 February 1984 until his death thirteen months later, on 10 March 1985...
's life, Grishin had been considered as a possible contender to succeed Chernenko as the General Secretary
General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the title given to the leader of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. With some exceptions, the office was synonymous with leader of the Soviet Union...
and as a possible alternative to Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
. In an attempt to stress his closeness to Chernenko, he dragged the terminally ill Soviet leader out to vote in early 1985. This action by Grishin backfired and was almost universally viewed as a cruel act. After Chernenko's death in March 1985, he declined to put himself forward as a candidate for succession and instead offered his support, albeit lukewarm, to Gorbachev. Gorbachev was subsequently unanimously elected as the General Secretary
General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the title given to the leader of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. With some exceptions, the office was synonymous with leader of the Soviet Union...
.
In late-December 1985, Grishin was replaced by Boris Yeltsin
Boris Yeltsin
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999.Originally a supporter of Mikhail Gorbachev, Yeltsin emerged under the perestroika reforms as one of Gorbachev's most powerful political opponents. On 29 May 1990 he was elected the chairman of...
as the First Secretary of the Moscow Party Committee. Grishin lost his position as a member of the Politburo
Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Politburo , known as the Presidium from 1952 to 1966, functioned as the central policymaking and governing body of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.-Duties and responsibilities:The...
soon thereafter.
In an interview with the conservative Russian newspaper Molodaya Gvardiya in 1991, he claims that the only reason he lost was because "younger Party leaders, such as Yegor Ligachev
Yegor Ligachev
Yegor Kuzmich Ligachev is a Russian politician who was a high-ranking official in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union . Originally a protege of Mikhail Gorbachev, Ligachev became a challenger to his leadership.-Early life:...
, supported Gorbachev because they feared that if I had become Party boss, they would lose their posts."
On 25 May 1992, Grishin died at the age of 78. He suffered a heart attack at a welfare office in Moscow, where he went to register an increase in his state pension.