The arrest (or murder?) of Beria, June, 26, 1953 by the Soviet military -- The Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, July 2-7, 1953 -- The secret trial against Beria, Merkulov, Dekanozov and others, Dec. 18-23, 1953 -- Other political trials, 1954-1956 -- The liquidation of the "Anti-Party Group" by Khrushchev and Zhukov, June 1957 -- Working hypothesis for further analysis -- The main charges against Beria and their refutation -- Beria's reform initiatives during his interregnum -- Khrushchev's capitalist reforms and their outcome -- Verification of the working hypothesis. |