GEORGY GAPON

(1870 - 1906)

Georgy Apollonovich Gapon (17 February [O.S. 5 February] 1870 – 10 April [O.S. 28 March] 1906) was a Russian Orthodox priest, leader of the Assembly of Russian Factory Workers of the City of St. Petersburg, and a police agent.

As agent of the secret police, Gapon helped organise what would later be referred to as "police unions" --that is to say, unions ostensibly controlled by reformist, pro-Tsarist elements, and meant to draw workers away from more radical syndicalist and socialist influences. On January 9, 1905, Gapon organised, with provocative aims, a procession of workers to the Winter Palace to present a petition to the Tsar. The unarmed workers were shot down in what would be called Bloody Sunday. Gapon was himself wounded and forced to flee St Petersburg.

After this Gapon emigrated abroad, where he joined the Socialist-Revolutionary Party, and then returned to Russia illegally, whereupon he resumed contact with the tsarist secret political police. He was then assigned to help dismantle the workers' organizations which he helped to build.

In April 1906, Gapon was hanged by SR party combatants who had overheard him discussing his police contacts with another militant whom he was attempting to recruit to that cause.

WORKS

1905: St. Petersburg Workingmen's Petition to Tsar Nicholas II

1906: The Story of My Life