As in the first great show-trial of 1936, Vyshinsky led for the prosecution. On 24th, in the course of numerous exchanges, Vyshinsky brought Radek to his disclosures about Putna, who had already been implicated by the 1936 trial:

than ten times in the course of that particular passage. Tukhachevsky's testimonial of loyalty came from a man standing flanked by NKVD guards and undergoing trial charged with the gravest crimes against the state. There was clearly some great mischief afoot against the Red Army's commanders, for the only context in which the mention of a name could bring favour was to have that name bracketed on a list of intended 'victims' marked down by these 'terrorists'. It was of no benefit to Tukhachevsky to be absolved politically by Radek.