Terenty Deribas

Terenty Dmitrievich Deribas (28th March 1883 - 28th July 1938) was a Soviet official and head of the far eastern branch of the NKVD from 1934 until 1937. Prior to Joseph Stalin's takeover, he was a high-ranking member of the Cheka, and was responsible for crushing many counter-revolutionary uprisings. He became a member of the OGPU in 1929, and joined the NKVD in 1931, becoming chief of the far eastern branch, a position which he used to supress dissent and opposition. During the Great Purge, Balitsky was arrested and sentenced to death. He was shot on 28th July 1938, and was succeeded by Vsevolod Balitsky.