Pesotskyi M. The Structure and Operation of the People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (1919–1930)

On the basis of a wide range of literature and sources, taking into account the relevant theoretical and methodological framework, the dissertation offers a comprehensive historical study of the formation, structural changes and operation of the NKVD of Ukraine between 1919 and 1930. The paper comprehensively studies the structure and tasks of the bodies of the NKVD of the Ukrainian SSR and reveals the role of the NKVD in the asserting of the Soviet government’s power on the republic as well as in the introduction of the Bolshevik policy in Ukraine. This qualifying paper presents, for the first time, a holistic analysis of the historiography of the formation, transformation and functioning of the NKVD of Ukraine; introduces new arrays of archival sources and documentary publications to the wide scientific community; describes the structure, main areas of operation and defects in the functioning of local bodies of the NKVD and studies the specific nature of their communication with the central apparatus of the NKVD; reveals the role of the NKVD in managing the economic and household infrastructure of Ukraine. The dissertation updates and expands on the historical background, the origins of creation and the initial stage of the NKVD, as well as on the general picture of structural changes within the apparatus of the NKVD and its functions following the reorganisations of different years. The dissertation deepens the analysis of the participation of the NKVD in state regulation of church and religious life and clarifies the role of the NKVD in establishing the functioning of the prison system, police and criminal investigation bodies. The practical value of the dissertation paper is allowing Ukrainian and foreign researchers to use the systematised and critically analysed factual materials and the obtained research results in the process of further research of the structure and operation of the NKVD and other bodies of power in the Ukrainian SSR. The materials introduced to the wide scientific community can be used in the preparation of special courses for students of humanities departments of higher education institutions; in textbooks and manuals; monographs, academic and educational articles. Provisions and conclusions of the research paper as well as updated historical experience can help central and local authorities to harmonise state policies and avoid managerial flaws. The historiography of the issue covers two chronological sections, the Soviet period and the period of independent Ukraine. Research papers of the Soviet era were biased when it came to the issue of the functioning of the NKVD of Ukraine. Despite the ideological partisanship of the studies written in the USSR, they do contain a significant array of factual materials. Positive developments in historical science took place during the perestroika period that dispensed with the monopoly of the Communist perspective in the ideological sphere of the country’s life along with limitations in research approaches and conclusions, as well as in access to sources. This allowed for rethinking of the methodological foundation of researching the operation of state bodies of the Soviet government in Ukraine. Having gained independence, Ukraine completely rejected limitations in research approaches and conclusions. However, researchers mostly focused on the functioning of police bodies as a component of the NKVD. On the other hand, the role of the NKVD in the management of economic and household infrastructure and the role of the NKVD in ensuring the functioning of the prison system is yet to receive adequate coverage in the academic literature. The sources are rather representative. Both published and unpublished archival documents and materials from periodicals revealed the origins of the creation of the NKVD, presented the evolution of the structure of its central apparatus and local bodies and allowed characterising the changes that took place in the functioning of the NKVD between 1919 and 1930. Approaching the historiography and sources of the research with modern methodologies allowed for solving the research tasks and achieving the set goal. Scientific principles and steps of the scientific method were used to handle the subject of research as impartially as possible and come up with thorough deductions and conclusions. The paper establishes that the NKVD of Ukraine, from the time of its creation in 1919 until its liquidation in 1930, was in a state of permanent structural transformation as well as identification and adjustment of the structure, powers and functions of its own central and local apparatus. Throughout the period of existence of the NKVD, its principal activities were set forth from time to time in the regulations on the NKVD and amendments to them.