How important was the use of purges in helping Stalin obtain absolute control over Russia

How important was the use of purges in helping Stalin to establish absolute control over Russia in the 1930s? The use of purges was the most important reason that Stalin was able to establish absolute control over Russia in the 1930s. However, there were other factors such as propaganda and Stalin’s constitution which helped. Stalin did not accept any challenges to his authority, and used purges to clear out his opponents. Sergei Kirov was a victim of Stalin’s use of purges. He was one of Stalin’s closest supporters in the Politburo and was the party boss of Leningrad in 1934. At the 1934 Party Congress, Kirov went against Stalin and began criticising him and his harsh policies. Fearless ones warmly applauded Kirov as they agreed, while other less daring ones remained silent. Stalin’s position in the Central Committee was under siege, as Kirov held the highest number of votes while Stalin got the lowest. Stalin only managed to stay in as there were many vacancies. Therefore, Stalin decided to take action against Kirov who was an emerging rival for the leadership of the Party. On Decemeber 1st, Kirov was walking along a corridor in the Smolny Institute. As he turned into narrow passage leading to his private office a young man appeared from the wall. Strangely enough, there were no security guards around. The young man pulled a revolver out of his briefcase and fired. Chudov, a secretary of Leningrad City Party Committee, ran out of his office and rushed up to Kirov, but Kirov was dead. On the same day, Stalin passed a law that any cases of terrorist acts against officials of the Soviet Regime were to be tried without public prosecutor or counsel, appeals and petitions for pardon were not allowed and that the death sentence must be carried out immediately. This law gave Stalin the chance to carry out the Great Purges properly and easily without any resistance. Kirov’s assassination was the beginning of an enormous catastrophe which was to destroy millions of