Keyword: «cheka»

The article reveals the influence of the Cheka on the establishment of a punitive policy in the early years of the Soviet regime. The author analyzes legal acts regulating this sphere of public relations, archival documents, and scientific works dealing with the same subject. It is noted that the influence of the Cheka went beyond the tasks entrusted to this body, which was largely due to their importance in terms of preserving and strengthening Soviet statehood, as well as F. Dzerzhinsky’s authority. In general, the general vector of the Cheka influence is characterized as rigidly repressive, with a predominance of goal setting over the content of the working methods.