Background
Martov, L. was born on December 24, 1865 in Constantinople. Son of a merchant.
Martov, L. was born on December 24, 1865 in Constantinople. Son of a merchant.
As a student, involved in Marxist circles, close personal friend of Lenin. Exiled to Turukhansk, 1896. Emigrated, 1901. Co-editor of Iskra with Lenin.
Opposed Lenin’s plans of introducing dictatorial methods into party work, and after the inter-party split, 1903, became the most prominent Menshevik leader. In 1917, proposed a coalition government of all socialist parties. After the October Revolution 1917, protested against the dictatorship of the Bolsheviks.
Emigrated, Sep. 1920. Prominent figure of international socialism, edited the Menshevik Sotsialisticheskii Vestnik abroad. Wrote a number of works criticizing the Bolsheviks and Lenin personally.