Kirov Murder Myster

1. In what circumstances did the assassin carry out the murder?
Leonid Nikolayev had been a depressed man with poor health. He had been removed from the communist party on occassion and had developed a keen hatred for some parts for it. Also, it was thought that his wife had been having an affair with Kirov.

2. What strange coincidences surround the murder?
The key witness, the body guard of Kirov, had been in a car full of NKVD members where the car had crashed, killing the guard, without hurting anyone else. Also, the deputy of the NKVD had released Leonid Nikayev twice after being arrested in the area of Kirov. Also, a member of the NKVD had been reported to practice shooting the revolver, the one that was used ot kill Kirov, with Leonid.

3. Is there any evidence to link Stalin to the murder?
Kirov had recieved more votes that Stalin in the 17th committee of congress. He had also been one of the best orators in the party, who wanted a break in industrialization for the peasant popluation. His popularity exceeded Stalin, which wuold give Stalin reason to kill him off.

4. Is there any evidence to suggest that the NKVD was involved in the murder?
The deputy of the NKVD had released Leonid twice from imprisonment, as had a member of the NKVD practised shooting the revolver that killed Kirov with Leonid.

5. Who had the best motive for the murder?
Leonid would seem to have had the best motive for the murder, but so many pieces of unclear evidence would show that it seems to be much more to it.

6. What theories can you suggest about who was responsible - was it the assassin alone or were others involved?
It would seem that Stalin would have ordered the NKVD to set up an unstable man with reason himself to kill Kirov, for the assassination, while killing all witnesses of the crime, or viewers of evidence presented by imformation.