Betal Kalmykow

Betal Kalmykow (1884–1938) was a Soviet politician and the head of the North Caucasian Autonomous Region, known for his authoritarian rule. In the 1930s, he became infamous for his brutal suppression of political dissent and was involved in the forced resettlement of local populations. His actions drew criticism from contemporaries, including Michail Prischwin, who documented his experiences and conflicting emotions about Kalmykow in his diaries.