A red-headed document issued in early September 1991 made all Soviet government officials, whether they were high-ranking dignitaries or obscure grassroots personnel, vaguely smell a hint of the danger of impending turmoil. This document talked about the need to strengthen the advancement and purity of the party members. Those old foxes with rich political experience knew at a glance that behind this document might be a fierce turmoil.
Considering how easily Yanaev had dealt with his political enemies and how ruthlessly he had uprooted their supporters, a chilling thought came to many people's minds: a political purge.
Yanayev was like the guardian of the Soviet Union, picking out the opportunists and corrupt officials who were parasitic on the Red Empire one by one, and then throwing them into the court to wait for the judgment of justice. If possible, he really wanted to conduct an Inquisition-style heresy verdict and send these people to the stake in the Flower Square.
Pavlov, the secretary of the Smolensk Municipal Party Committee, was one of the first senior officials to see that something was wrong, so after Yanayev issued this red-headed document, he had been planning to flee to the West. Even in the second half of the Brezhnev era, due to the economic difficulties caused by low production efficiency, the top leaders of Smolensk did not generously distribute supplies to the people, but hoarded them and made a lot of money. Therefore, the secretary of the municipal party committee was jokingly called "the termite of the heroic city" by word of mouth among the citizens.
Secretary Pavlov controlled the distribution of materials and local privileges in Smolensk. Along with Gorbachev's democratization movement, he subtly transferred the people's dissatisfaction with the bureaucracy to the system, vigorously promoted the importance of democracy and freedom, and prepared to launder his own plunder of state property.
"I'm afraid there will be a big turmoil." Pavlov sighed as he headed to the airport. His secretary carried the luggage into the trunk, preparing to take the Smolensk Municipal Party Committee Secretary to the airport.
He had already secretly transferred the stolen money abroad, and then applied for political asylum in Western Europe under the pretext of going abroad for inspection. During the Gorbachev era, the policy on Soviet citizens traveling abroad was relaxed, so Pavlov had the opportunity to escape.
"I must escape from this damn country without human rights." Pavlov thought secretly in his heart. When he cursed the Soviet Union as a dictatorship that suppressed human rights, he forgot that he was a government official who came to power through popular elections.
"Secretary Pavlov, we can go now. Everything is ready." The young secretary pushed his glasses and said to Pavlov. As the secretary in charge of Pavlov's daily work, Ihalmiki, this young man from Odessa became Pavlov's confidant in just half a year. He gave him advice and strategies to bring down his political enemies. He also became a grasshopper on the same rope with Pavlov. They would prosper together and suffer together.
Pavlov turned around and took a last look at the villa that had accompanied him for five years, then reluctantly opened the car door and let the driver drive him to the airport. Before leaving, he suddenly had a strange thought: would he never have the chance to come back here in this life and would have to spend his life in a foreign country?
Pavlov, feeling a bit depressed, stopped thinking about these troubles and tried to divert his attention. He called out to Ihalmiki, "Ihalmiki, what are your plans for the future? Where are you going to settle down?"
"Me?" After hearing the secretary's question, Ihalmiki thought for a moment and said, "I will probably buy a white house by the Seine River in Paris, drink coffee and read books on the balcony when I have free time. Then I will come back when this country truly realizes democracy and freedom."
"Haha, that's an interesting idea." Pavlov said, "I'm different from you. I hope to use the money I save to start a listed company in the United States, and then continue to create wealth. After all, I have longed for the life of rich people in Europe and the United States when I was a child." When talking about his ideal, Pavlov's eyes revealed a greedy look for wealth.
"Comrade Ihalmiki, I'm a little sleepy now. Let me take a rest before we get to the airport. You can wake me up then." Ihalmiki, who had not slept well in the past two days due to fear and worry about the official documents, yawned, leaned his head on the back of the chair, and his heavy eyelids slowly closed into one.
"Okay, Secretary, I promise you will have a big surprise when you wake up." Looking at Pavlov who was gradually falling asleep, Ihalmiki said with a smile, his eyes as cunning as a fox looking at its prey.
"Hmm..." Pavlov was confused and didn't know what Ihalmki was saying. He just hoped that this Soviet nightmare would end as soon as possible. It would be best if he could wake up and stand on the democratic and free land of America and enjoy the warm sunshine of California.
After an unknown amount of time, Pavlov's shoulders were shaken a few times. He struggled to wake up from his dream of Miami Beach and sunshine, opened his eyes and asked dazedly, "Ihalmiki, are we at the airport yet?"
"Pavlov, we didn't arrive at the airport." Secretary Ihalmiki's voice was a little cold, especially when he heard him calling his name directly. Pavlov, realizing that something was wrong, quickly opened his eyes and tried to struggle to get up, but saw a scene he least wanted to see.
Ihalmiki pointed a pistol at Pavlov in the passenger seat. Pavlov turned his head and saw KGB agents standing outside the car window. Like Ihalmiki, they all looked at the poor Smolensk Party Secretary with a cold expression. Pavlov finally understood what was going on and clenched his fists.
"You betrayed me? Ihalmiki." Pavlov bit his lips tightly to control his emotions.
"Betrayal? You think too much, Comrade Pavlov. In fact, from the beginning, I never thought of being loyal to you." Ihalmiki looked at Pavlov as if he was staring at a poor and helpless lamb. "In fact, I have been a KGB agent sent by the central government to collect evidence of your crimes. Oh, don't be surprised. You are not the only one who has been taken care of by General Secretary Yanaev. Many leaders of party and government organs in important cities have also been personally named and taken care of by the general secretary. Didn't you find out that many city and state leaders have changed their entourage recently? So you don't need to feel frustrated."
"How is that possible?" Pavlov's eyes widened. "Yanaev only took the position of the top leader this month, but you came to my side eight months ago."
"Can I tell you that this plan actually started a year ago?" Ihalmiki looked at the panicked Pavlov with interest. "Of course, the General Secretary also took into account the need to maintain the positive image of the Soviet Union. So for you corrupt elements, if the amount is small, the circumstances are not serious and you are willing to take the initiative to expose others, you can be given extra mercy and just be relieved of your duties. Of course, if you are unwilling to speak up, there is nothing I can do. Do you see the gun in my hand?"
Ihalmiki raised the cold muzzle of his gun and said, "We will fake a suicide scene. The choice is yours, to live or die."
"Okay, I agree." Pavlov gritted his teeth under duress, took out a notebook, and explained the network of interests he had created, including who had embezzled money and where it was stored, and explained everything in detail. When it was almost done, he breathed a sigh of relief and handed the notebook to Ihalmiki.
"I hope I can be forgiven," said Pavlov.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Pavlov. Oh, I forgot to add a quote." Ihalmiki patted his head. "The General Secretary also said that there is a kind of people who cannot be pardoned, that is, those who yearn for freedom and use despicable democratic slogans to legalize their corrupt behavior of collecting state property. He said that if they are caught in bed, they will be suffocated with a pillow, and if they are caught in the bathroom, they will be drowned in the toilet."
Ihalmiki looked at Pavlov, who was sweating and speechless, and opened the safety on his pistol. "By the way, my name is not Ihalmiki. My real name is Vladislav Surkov, the personal aide of General Secretary Yanaev."
Then he pulled the trigger, and brightly colored blood spurted onto the car window, leaving a pause symbolizing the final end of Pavlov's sinful life.