Bogdan Kobulov


Bogdan Zakharovich Kobulov was a Soviet politician and member of the Soviet security and police apparatus during the rule of Joseph Stalin, as was his younger brother Amayak Kobulov.
Kobulov was born in Tbilisi, the son of an Armenian tailor. He joined the OGPU in 1931 and became one of Lavrentiy Beria's closest associates.
He was a candidate member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party after the 18th and 19th Congresses. He was a Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the second convocation.
He held a series of senior posts in the NKVD, the Soviet secret police, and was the most trusted henchman of the NKVD chief Beria. As head of the Investigative Directorate of the NKVD from 22 December 1938 to 4 September 1939, he was one of the major organizers of the political terror. He subsequently headed the Economic Directorate until 1941. During World War II he played a large role in the deportation of several ethnic minorities from their native lands, for which he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
When Beria fell from power, Kobulov was arrested along with his boss on 27 June 1953; he was convicted on multiple charges, including espionage, and sentenced to death and executed on 23 December 1953.