ABSTRACT
One of the best-known episodes of Soviet history in the Khrushchev period is the so-called ‘Ryazan Case’. Towards the end of the 1950s the agricultural successes of the Ryazan region were presented by official propaganda as an example to be imitated. It was declared that in 1959 alone this region tripled its deliveries of meat to the state. A.N. Larionov, the first secretary of the Ryazan regional committee, was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labour, and awards also rained down on other Ryazan workers. Although indications that the Ryazan successes were based on deceit did reach Moscow, no attention was paid to them. But at the end of 1960, agricultural failures in Ryazan region and in the country as a whole compelled Khrushchev to repudiate the ‘meat leap-forward’. In many regions, including Ryazan, checks began to be made that uncovered massive cheating.2 Larionov could not cope with his unmasking and killed himself. In October 1964 the Ryazan scandal would be one of the accusations laid against Khrushchev as he was removed from power.3
