Tomchin, Yury Yakovlevich (1898-1938)

An operative and official of the Soviet State Security (GB) and Captain of the GB.

Tomchin was born in Minsk to the family of a foundry worker. In 1905, he moved to the United States with his family, but later he returned to Russia. He worked as a clerk and served in the army during World War I. In 1919, he joined the Cheka, and in 1921 he transferred to its foreign department (INO). He worked in Italy, Germany and other European countries, as well as at the INO’s Moscow headquarters. On April 10, 1938, Tomchin was arrested on charges of espionage. In August 1938, he was sentenced to death and executed on the same day. ¹