To the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR



     On March 13 [of this year] the Military Tribunal of the
Supreme Court condemned me to death by shooting.  I ask for
clemency.

     My guilt before the party and the country is great, but I
have a passionate desire and, I think, enough strength to expiate
it.

     I ask you to believe that I am not a completely corrupt
person.  In my life there were many years of noble, honest work
for the revolution.  I can still prove that even after having
committed so many crimes, it is possible to become an honest
person and to die with honor.

I ask that you spare my life.

March 13, 1938

[signed] A.I. Rykov





[stamp] True copy