Mikhail Lashevich

Mikhail Mikhailovich Lashevich (Михаил Михайлович Лашевич; 1884 in Odessa, Russian Empire – 30 August 1928 in Harbin, China), also known under the name Gaskovich, born of a Jewish family was a Soviet military and party leader, and member of Bolshevik Russian Social Democratic Labour Party since 1901.

After the October Revolution, he held various higher military, party and governmental posts.

Once Joseph Stalin started to rise to power, Lashevich sided with Leon Trotsky. As a result, he was removed from central posts and sent to Harbin to serve as deputy chairman of the Chinese Eastern Railway (1926-1928). In 1927, at the 15th Congress of the VKP(b), he was expelled from the Party, together with other Trotskyists. In 1928, after he recanted his opposition, his party membership was restored.

In August 1928, he was reported to have been arrested by Chinese authorities in connection with the Barga uprising at Hulunbuir, which was led by Merse.

Some claim that he committed suicide, others claim he died in a car accident. He is remembered by a plaque on the Field of Mars in St Petersburg.