Elin, Iakov Leontevich

(party pseudonym, Zhak). Born 1888 in Kiev; died Mar. 1, 1919, in Odessa. Revolutionary figure. Member of the Communist Party from 1905. Son of an artisan; worker.

Elin was arrested in 1907 and placed under police surveillance. In 1908 he emigrated and worked at an automotive plant in Paris. After the February Revolution of 1917 he returned to Russia. He participated in the January Armed Revolt of 1918 in Odessa. After the Germans occupied Odessa in March 1918, he became chairman of the Cheka border region in the area of L’gov. In November 1918, Elin was sent by the Central Committee of the RCP (Bolshevik) to Odessa, where he became one of the organizers of the Foreign Board, engaged in agitation and revolutionary work among French sailors, and created Communist groups on the ships of the occupationists. On Mar. 1, 1919, Elin was arrested and after cruel tortures was executed with Zh. Liaburb and others.