Background
Maklakov, Vasilii was born on May 22, 1869. Son of a professor.
Maklakov, Vasilii was born on May 22, 1869. Son of a professor.
Graduated in law from Moscow University, 1896. Pupil of the famous lawyer F. Plevako.
Became a very influential liberal politician (his brother was a rightwing Minister of the Interior). Famous lawyer. Conducted (with Gruzenberg and others) the defence of Beilis, 1913 (anti-Semitic accusation of ritual murder, rejected by the jury). Member of the Central Committee of the Cadet Party, member of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Dumas.
Agreed to take part in the murder of Rasputin by providing poison (according to N. Berberova, in his old age he confessed that he gave aspirin tablets instead). Active freemason all his life. In 1917, thought that the preservation of the monarchy was essential (transfer of crown prerogatives to Grand Duke Mikhail).
After the February Revolution, given the task of reorganizing the Ministry of Justice. Representative of the Duma Committee (precursor of the Provisional Government) in the Ministry of Justice. Arrived in Paris as Russian Ambassador on 7 November 1917, too late to be accredited.
Remained in the Russian Embassy. Was present (as a silent observer) at the Versailles peace conference. Chairman of the Council of Russian Ambassadors abroad.
After the recognition of the USSR by France, 1924, resigned and handed the Embassy over to Krasin. Thereafter until his death, head of the Office for Russian Refugees with the League of Nations in Paris. During the German occupation of France, short arrest (as a freemason, wrote in prison a memorandum on this subject).
After the liberation of Paris, 12 February 1945, visited the Soviet Ambassador, Bogomolov, to drink Stalin’s health, an action that estranged him from many of his former friends. Approved of the forcible repatriation of refugees from Soviet Russia to the USSR. Bachelor all his life, his household was kept by his unmarried sister. His memoirs, Iz Vospominanii, were published in the USA. Biography written by Adamovich.
Religion doesn't give equal treatment to women and therefore contradicts basic human rights.
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union is the leading and guiding force of Soviet society, and the nucleus of its political system, of all state and public organizations.