Konstantin Stepanovich Kuzakov (; 4 September 1911 – 12 September 1996)
was a Soviet journalist and politician and one of the organizers of Soviet television, radio and cinema. He was claimed to be the illegitimate second son of

Joseph Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (born Dzhugashvili; 5 March 1953) was a Soviet politician and revolutionary who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until Death and state funeral of Joseph Stalin, his death in 1953. He held power as General Secret ...

Biography

Kuzakov had publicly stated in 1995 that he was an illegitimate child of

, though there is no given proof of this.Khlevniuk, Oleg V. (2015), ''Stalin: New Biography of a Dictator'', translated by Seligman Favorov, Nora, New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, p. 251 Kuzakov alleged that his mother, Maria Kuzakova, had been Stalin's landlady and mistress during his 1911 exile in

Solvychegodsk Solvychegodsk () is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, town in Kotlassky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located on the right-hand bank of the Vychegda, Vychegda River, about northeast of Kotlas, the administrative center of the ...

. One of Stalin's biographers,

Simon Sebag Montefiore Simon Jonathan Sebag Montefiore ( ; born 27 June 1965) is a British historian, television presenter and author of history books and novels, including '' Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar'' (2003), '' Jerusalem: The Biography'' (2011), '' The Rom ...

, supported Kuzakov's claims. According to Montefiore, Maria was still pregnant when Stalin left his exile.

: ''Young Stalin''.

Alfred A. Knopf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. () is an American publishing house that was founded by Blanche Knopf and Alfred A. Knopf Sr. in 1915. Blanche and Alfred traveled abroad regularly and were known for publishing European, Asian, and Latin American writers ...

. . Konstantin was enrolled into

Leningrad University Saint Petersburg State University (SPBGU; ) is a public university, public research university in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Russia. Founded in 1724 by a decree of Peter the Great, the uni ...

, according to Montefiore possibly with the discreet help of Stalin. According to Kuzakov the

NKVD The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (, ), abbreviated as NKVD (; ), was the interior ministry and secret police of the Soviet Union from 1934 to 1946. The agency was formed to succeed the Joint State Political Directorate (OGPU) se ...

forced him to sign a statement promising never to reveal the truth of his parentage in 1932. For a while, Kuzakov taught philosophy at the Leningrad Military Mechanical Institute. Afterward, he got a job in the Central Committee's '' apparat'' in

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

. He served as a colonel during World War II. In 1948, while working for

Andrei Zhdanov Andrei Aleksandrovich Zhdanov ( rus, Андрей Александрович Жданов, p=ɐnˈdrʲej ɐlʲɪkˈsandrəvʲɪdʑ ˈʐdanəf, a=Ru-Андрей Жданов.ogg, links=yes; – 31 August 1948) was a Soviet politician. He was ...

, a very close ally of Stalin, he and his deputy were accused of being American spies. While he was never officially introduced to the man he claimed was his father, Kuzakov alleged that on one occasion while working in the

Kremlin The Moscow Kremlin (also the Kremlin) is a fortified complex in Moscow, Russia. Located in the centre of the country's capital city, the Moscow Kremlin (fortification), Kremlin comprises five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Mosco ...

"Stalin stopped and looked at me and I felt he wanted to tell me something. I wanted to rush to him, but something stopped me. He waved his pipe and moved on." Sebag-Montefiore claimed that although Stalin prevented Kuzakov's arrest, he was nonetheless dismissed from the Communist Party. After Stalin's death and the arrest of

Lavrentiy Beria Lavrentiy Pavlovich Beria ka, ლავრენტი პავლეს ძე ბერია} ''Lavrenti Pavles dze Beria'' ( – 23 December 1953) was a Soviet politician and one of the longest-serving and most influential of Joseph ...

, Kuzakov was restored in the Party and in Soviet apparat, holding various positions associated with culture, a member of the collegium of

Gosteleradio The State Committee of Television and Radio Broadcasting of the Soviet Union ( Russian: Государственный комитет СССР по телевидению и радиовещанию) commonly known as Gosteleradio of the USSR (Г ...

, chief of a department in the Ministry of Culture and other posts. He died in 1996.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuzakov, Konstantin 1911 births 1996 deaths People from Kotlassky District People from Solvychegodsky Uyezd Communist Party of the Soviet Union members Saint Petersburg State University alumni Soviet military personnel of World War II Children of Joseph Stalin Academic staff of ITMO University