1928-1931 - Early Show Trials

• 1928 Shakhty Show Trial

  • 53 engineers from the Shakhty coal mine in the Caucasus region were put on trial for accusations of counter-revolutionary activity as there had been a drop of production at the mine.
  • At their show trial, the accused repeated concessions which had been forced out of them.
  • 5 were executed and 44 were imprisoned.
• 1930 Industrial Party Trial

  • At this trial, it was alleged that a well-organised group with members in top industrial and planning posts, and in the pay of foreign enemies in the Soviet Union, was sabotaging the First Five Year Plan.
• 1931 Menshevik Trial

  • Leading figures in the earlier drawing up of the First Five Year Plan and the prosecution of the wreckers now found themselves on trial because of their Menshevik background.