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October 07, 2020, 02:00:44 AM
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Teddy

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Tried for bribery and traitor brother

New documents found about the most mysterious member of the Dyatlov group

All rights belong to Komsomolskaya Pravda. Authors Nikolay Varsegov %u0438 Natalya Vatsegova

Text in Russain

Thibeaux-Brignolle camera film 3 frame 10

It is known that the most mysterious member of the Dyatlov group was the 37-year-old combatant Semyon Zolotaryov.

In the winter of 1959, nine hikers-skiers disappeared in the mountains of the Northern Urals. They were participating in a trek led by Igor Dyatlov. A month later, rescuers found their tent cut open. Within a radius of one and a half kilometers from it they found five frozen bodies. The rest of the group were found only in May. Almost all the hikers were barefoot and half-naked. Some have fatal injuries. It is still not clear why the guys fled to the bitter frost and to their death.

It is known that the most mysterious figure in the Dyatlov group was the 37-year-old combatant Semyon Zolotaryov. After the war he graduated from the Minsk Institute of Physical Education and went to the secret and closed city of Lermontov. He got a job as a physical training teacher. People who knew Semyon said that he, being a communist, was not an example of morality for a Soviet person and that he had a unruly character. He committed misconduct for which someone else would have been both expelled from the party and fired from his teaching position. But for some reason Semyon Zolotaryov got away with it. Some researchers of the tragedy of the Dyatlov group believe that Zolotarev could have been an unofficial employee of the security agencies. And even that he went with a secret mission on that fateful expedition.

Recently we managed to get an interesting document - the minutes of a closed party meeting, at which the moral character of Semyon Zolotaryov is once again examined. And in this document the life and character of our protagonist are reflected quite vividly. The atmosphere of those years is also interestingly shown here: theft at various levels and the leading role of the Communist Party in educating its members who have tripped.

Krivonischenko camera film 1 frame 33

Some researchers of the tragedy of the Dyatlov group believe that Zolotarev could have been an unofficial employee of the security agencies. And even that he went with a secret mission on that fateful expedition.

Here is the full document, including our comments.

Extract from the minutes of a closed party meeting of the primary party organization at secondary school %u2116 18 dated May 9, 1955.

Agenda:

Personal file of Comrade Zolotaryov, member of the CPSU.

Listened to:

1. Comrade Zhidkov%u0430, who reported that during the distribution of apartments, Zolotaryov's wife, Comrade Burgach, had bribed the head of the Housing and Communal Department. If earlier Comrade Zolotaryov denied his involvement in this case, now he does not deny that the bribe was given with his consent. It must be assumed that Zolotaryov is an accomplice in the bribing.

Investigating this issue, the Civil Code of the CPSU established that for 4 years Zolotaryov lived with his aunt at her expense, hiding his salary, treated her very rudely, even beat her (there is a medical record). Then he moved to live with Burgach, where he also continued to behave rudely and hid his salary to save money.

Zolotaryov's gravest crime is that he concealed from the party the betrayal of his brother during the Nazi occupation and that his brother was shot as a traitor to his homeland.

2. Zolotaryov. He said that the first time at the meeting, he behaved poorly, denying involvement in the bribery. He said that it is his fault that he did not convince Burgach against it. In reference to his aunt, it was important that she deceived him, saying that she was buying food at the market while she was stealing from the sanatorium where she worked. He started saving money while still a student. In relations with his aunt, he was rude, because his nerves could not stand it. And the beating in question happened by accident. Here, too, he admits his guilt. As for the concealment of his brother's betrayal, at first he did not know about it, and then he believed that everyone is responsible for himself. He is fully responsible. It is his fault. He admits his mistakes, Zolotaryov assured the party organization that he had corrected all the mistakes, he would work honestly, and asks to remain in the ranks of the party.

Krivonischenko camera film 1 frame 20

People who knew Semyon said that he, being a communist, was not an example of morality for a Soviet person and that he had a unruly character.

From the authors:

Little is known about Semyon's brother Nikolay. He was born in 1903, in 1941 he went to the front. But soon after being wounded he returned home to the Kuban. And after the occupation of the Kuban by the Germans, he went to their service. Already in 1943 he was arrested and convicted of treason. The verdict is execution. The family never found out where his remains were buried.

But what is curious is that in the closed city of Lermontov in the 1950s, in the conditions of the strictest secrecy, uranium was mined. And any newcomer was carefully checked by the state security authorities. The relatives of the visitor were also investigated. But they missed a man whose brother is a traitor! How could this happen? Or Semyon had a serious trump card, which, even after being exposed with his brother's betrayal, gave him the right to stay in the city?

Thibeaux-Brignolle camera film 3 frame 10

Little is known about Semyon's brother Nikolay

Nikolay Alekseevich Zolotaryov, born in 1903, native of the village of Udobnoy, Otradnensky district of Krasnodar Territory, Russian. He was mobilized into the Red Army by the Udobnoy Military commissariat and sent to the Crimean sector of the front in November 1941.

In March 1942, N.A. Zolotaryov was wounded and treated in a hospital in the city of Esentuki. He went to live back in the village of Udobnoy. In November 1942, after the occupation of this region of the Krasnodar Territory, he joined the auxiliary police unit under the local occupation administration.

After the liberation of this territory from the Nazi invaders, N.A. Zolotaryov N.A. was arrested on April 14, 1943. The military tribunal of the Armavir garrison of July 8, 1943 convicted him under Art. 58-1 "b" of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR and sentenced to capital punishment - execution. The verdict was carried out on August 24, 1943.

Questions:

When you were elected secretary of the party organization, did you tell your biography?
Answer: No, I didn't.

Why didn't you register your marriage with Burgach?
Answer: She has no divorce from her first husband.

Who are your parents and where do they live?
Answer: Father is a medical assistant, mother is a housewife, they live near Cherkessk.

What did you talk with Burgach in regards to the bribe?
Answer: At first I agreed, and then I was against.

Did you live in the same apartment with Burgach until recently?
Answer: Yes.

How do your parents live and how do you help them?
Answer: My father receives a pension, I send groceries, I help with the household on vacation.

How much are you paid monthly?
Answer: 1200 rubles.

For what purpose did you save money?
Answer: The deposit is confidential.

What kind of troops did you serve during the war and did you have any awards?
Answer: Served in the engineering troops, was awarded the Order of the Red Star and three medals.

How do you feel about your brother's betrayal?
Answer: Blocked him from my memory as a traitor.

From the authors:

Semyon Zolotaryov's salary of 1,200 rubles in 1955 is not a bad salary, considering that the national average salary was 711 rubles. The salary of a teacher was 742 rubles. The maximum salary was for water transport workers - 906 rubles. The minimum for collective farmers is 458 rubles, food and transportation industry workers - 449 rubles.

A kilogram (2 lbs) of white bread cost 3 rubles, rye 1 ruble, a kilo of beef 12 rubles 50 kopecks, a liter of milk 2 rubles 24 kopecks, butter 27 rubles 80 kopecks.

A bottle of vodka 22 rubles 80 kopecks. Red caviar 36 rubles per kilo, black caviar 85 rubles.

The most expensive suit was 1,500 rubles.

Why Zolotaryov, who has nothing to do with uranium mining, has this salary remains unclear.

Unknown camera film 5 frame 17

In fact the role of the combatant Semyon Alekseevich in the fateful expedition could have become fatal.

Listened to:

T. Zhidkova, who drew the attention of party members to Zolotaryov's character trait - greed. Hence all the consequences that we are discussing today. The second trait is insincerity. Even his last written explanation is more sincere than what he said here. This is the reason he didn't tell about his brother. We are discussing today an ugly manifestation in the party. We need to think about whether Zolotaryov's behavior is compatible with the title of a party member.

Comrade Zolotaryov. His brother lived separately from the family, so nothing can be said about his upbringing. I saved up money to buy a house or apartment. He thought of all his actions and considers his behavior to be wrong.

T. Peskov, who immediately upon arrival at school had dealings with Zolotaryov about party work, which is not yet up to the party standards. Zolotaryov was distracted from the work. At the last meeting, Zolotaryov's behaviour was innapropriate, denied everything. This suggests that Zolotaryov fell to the lowest level of human hypocrisy. The facts forced him to come clean. The fault of the party organization is that Zolotaryov's behavior has not yet been recognized at the meeting. Considering his combat merits and the fact that he admitted his mistakes, he proposes to give Zolotaryov a severe reprimand with a final warning and an entry into his personal file.

T. Krikunov (the school director), who said that Zolotaryov's relationship with his family was known to him. But the most important thing is that Zolotaryov hid his brother's betrayal. As for work, last year he worked much better, then somehow he began to behave more carelessly. But now, after the inspection, Zolotaryov began to work better. Taking into account the latest decisions of the Central Committee of the party on the sensitivity of the approach to party members, and on the educational value of decisions, relying on the party charter, he proposes to issue a severe reprimand to Zolotaryov with a final warning and an entry into his personal file.

T. Polievktov says that silence after the instructor's message is not just silence. It is very difficult to talk about the behavior of the secretary after we have discussed personal matters. By asking questions, we tried to find out the morale of Zolotaryov. Apparently, he has good inclinations, but he suppressed them within with his greed. He agrees with the proposal of his comrades. It is necessary to re-educate a person, direct him to the right path. The spirit of a person born under Soviet rule should help him rebuild his behavior.

Proposals received:

Consider that Comrade Zolotaryov deserves expulsion from the party for all the above facts.

Given his participation in the Great Patriotic War, government awards, based on the party charter, we concider:

1. For dishonest behavior, expressed in complicity in giving a bribe, in the wrong attitude towards relatives and in hiding from the party the fact of his brother's betrayal during the period of fascist occupation, to give S.A. Zolotaryov a severe reprimand with a final warning and an entry into the personal file.

2. Release Comrade Zolotaryoev from the post of secretary of the party organization as having compromised himself.

Listened to:

Comrade Zolotaryov, who asked to leave him on the post of secretary of the party organization, since he would like to improve on this post.

Comrade Zhidkova, who said that Zolotaryov, apparently, did not understand that the communists are doing condescension to his good past and want to re-educate him. So he should not be left as secretary.

The party meeting decides:

1. Give Comrade S.A. Zolotaryov a severe reprimand with a final warning and with entry into a personal file for dishonest behavior, expressed in complicity in giving a bribe, wrong attitude towards relatives and hiding from the party the fact of his brother's betrayal during the Nazi occupation.

2. Release Comrade S.A. Zolotaryov from the duties of the secretary of the party organization.

Thibeaux-Brignolle camera film 3 frame 9

In the winter of 1959, nine hikers-skiers disappeared in the mountains of the Northern Urals. They were participating in a trek led by Igor Dyatlov.

From the authors:

We are often asked why we are so closely studying the biography of Semyon Zolotaryov, because his personal life is essentially not related to the tragedy in 1959. We think that in fact the role of the combatant Semyon Alekseevich in the fateful expedition could have become fatal. His character was a difficult one, hot-tempered and unruly. We do not exclude that a confrontation between the leader of the trek and its most senior participant could have led to the tragic events.

Tamara Burgach

« Last Edit: October 08, 2020, 04:50:52 AM by Teddy »
 
The following users thanked this post: feijao89

October 07, 2020, 06:09:35 PM
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RidgeWatcher


Could Semyon have had a gun? I know in the USSR (at the time) citizens weren't allowed to own guns, unless hunters but what if he had a gun from the war, either his gun or one taken from a dead comrade? That could change the Dyatlov Pass tent scenario.
« Last Edit: October 07, 2020, 08:50:00 PM by RidgeWatcher »
 

October 08, 2020, 01:07:34 AM
Reply #2
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Teddy

Administrator
Could Semyon have had a gun? I know in the USSR (at the time) citizens weren't allowed to own guns, unless hunters but what if he had a gun from the war, either his gun or one taken from a dead comrade? That could change the Dyatlov Pass tent scenario.

No gun
 

October 08, 2020, 12:37:59 PM
Reply #3
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RidgeWatcher


Thank you Teddy,

I know nothing about finances/economics in Russia in 1959 but Semyon's income is suspect, if the figures are indeed fact. Were there other ways add income to your monthly paychecks? That was quite a bit more than come than his position warranted.
 

October 08, 2020, 12:58:00 PM
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Teddy

Administrator
As it says in the article, besides the high income, he got away with what someone else wouldn't have. He also lived in Lermontov, a closed city, where a secret uranium mining took place. Since Zolotaryov had a brother traitor this shouldn't have been possible but he did. Things are adding up.
 

October 11, 2020, 02:04:48 AM
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Per Inge Oestmoen


As it says in the article, besides the high income, he got away with what someone else wouldn't have. He also lived in Lermontov, a closed city, where a secret uranium mining took place. Since Zolotaryov had a brother traitor this shouldn't have been possible but he did. Things are adding up.


Zolotaryov's suspect family connections may theoretically have contributed to the decision to eliminate the nine hikers, but it is more probable that their being witnesses to activities that were strict state secrets was the decisive factor. If someone knows too much about something you are not supposed to know, there is a risk that a slip of the tongue tomorrow or in X years would mean that some secrets become divulged. This is a risk that the state security agencies in Soviet Russia would never take. Only the fact that the temperature was not sufficiently low during the night of February 02, 1959 prevented the Dyatlov Pass tragedy from being the perfectly executed wet affair.
 

October 21, 2020, 07:51:25 AM
Reply #6
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mk


Very interesting insight into Zolotaryov's character.  Interesting, as well, that he calls Burgach his wife--not his girlfriend, not his mistress--although she was still married to someone else.  He doesn't bother with the truth if a lie is simpler, and has no scruples when it comes to making life comfortable for himself. This, in itself, does not necessarily make him responsible for the deaths of the others, but it sheds some light on the group dynamics.

He could not connect with the others by being the same age or having had the same life experiences.  He could not relate to their general clean living and desire to be worthy of respect.  He relied on a superficial charm to gain acceptance--as, I expect, he was accustomed to doing in most other circumstances.

Bienko:  Everyone immediately fell in love with Zolotaryov. He was a sociable and cheerful guy. Easily connected with anyone. He knew a lot of hiking and camp songs. He easily fit into the Dyatlov group.

I think this description is so revealing.  Sociable; cheerful; camp songs: These are polite behaviors that anyone could assume who wanted to be accepted by a new group of people.  And, according to Bienko, it was based on these externalities that the whole group "fell in love with" Zolotaryov.

I remain suspicious of Bienko's replacement by Zolotaryov.  This new information about Zolotaryov's behavior does nothing to lessen that.

It does not, however, dovetail with a Zolotaryov who is so committed to the Communist Party that he volunteers for a dangerous mission and dies a hero when the mission goes wrong.  There must be a different explanation.


 

November 03, 2020, 02:15:18 PM
Reply #7
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Jean Daniel Reuss



I have no particular knowledge nor personal interest in these past events.
However, I remind you that the historical context of the USSR during the period 1939-1960 should not be omitted.

In consequences

Tried for bribery...
I have no reason to believe in the objectivity and impartiality of :
T. Zhidkova - Peskov - Krikunov - Polievktov
...nor to consider that the "latest decisions of the Central Committee of the party"  is an example of fair justice.


Tried for traitor brother Nikolay A. Zolotaryov (1903-1943)
The qualifier of traitor depends fundamentally from the point of view of the one who utters it.

In summer of 1942, many of the Germans reaching Kuban were greeted as liberators. Many Soviet Kuban Cossacks chose to switch to the German side either when in POW camps or on active service in the Soviet Army.
Which, by the way, can be better understood in consideration of the millions of completely innocent Soviet citizens who were sent to the Gulag camps between 1930 and 1945.

We must not forget the mentalities and the situations of the populations of Kuban, a region close to the Caucasus.
   
For Anton_Denikin (1872-1947) who remained bitterly opposed to Russia's Communist government, Nikolay Zolotaryov would have been considered as a hero.
 
So in 1943, the 2 millions of white Russians could certainly think:
" Nikolay Zolotaryov was not a traitor, as our enemies the Bolsheviks (the Reds) say, but on the contrary he is a cowardly murdered martyr ".
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_%C3%A9migr%C3%A9

From the summer of 1943, the Soviets organized trials for collaboration with the Nazis and involvement in war crimes. See , (but in French) :
   https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosaques_pendant_la_Seconde_Guerre_mondiale

The rather tumultuous history of General Andrey Vlasov (1901-1946) is widely known:
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrey_Vlasov
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Liberation_Army

The German General Helmuth von Pannwitz(1898-1947) had organized against the USSR the 1st Cossack Division and was very popular with his Cossack troops.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmuth_von_Pannwitz
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repatriation_of_Cossacks_after_World_War_II

That is another example:
"...The soviet major Ivan Kononov(1900-1967) then held a meeting with all his officers and men, where he announced that he was now an enemy of Stalin, and that he had decided to take up the fight against the Soviet regime for the liberation of Russia..."
........................
"...Apart from a few Political Officers all were ready to follow him.
On the 22nd of August 1941, without any resistance, Kononov led his regiment over to the German side...."

........................................
A more complete history of Ivan Koronov can be found here :
     

Jean Daniel Reuss

Rational guidance =

• There is nothing supernatural and mysterious about the injuries suffered by the Dyatlov group. They are all consistent with an attack by a group of professional killers who wanted to take the lives of the nine  [Per Inge Oestmoen].

• Now let us search for answers to: WHO ? WHY ? HOW ?

• The scenario must be consistent with the historical, political and psychological  contexts.

• The solution takes in consideration all known findings.