Ziser Yakov Izrailevich (1925)

Ziser (Sisser) Yakov Izrailevich (9.01.1925, Riga) — lawyer.

Yakov’s father worked in sawmill and leather industries and in his free time performed on the stage of the local Jewish theater; his mother was a homemaker, took on seasonal jobs, and raised three children. In 1938, Yakov Ziser completed Riga Elementary School. Due to the family’s financial hardship, at age 13 he was apprenticed to a leather goods store, where he worked until the Soviet annexation of Latvia. In 1941, he began working at Factory No. 464 as an apprentice turner while attending evening school for working youth, completing the 7th grade. He was sent by the Riga City Komsomol Committee to the evening division of the Riga Party School at the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Latvia.

In 1941, Ziser and his family were evacuated to Kuibyshev with Factory No. 464. After the plant was reorganized, he worked at the Regional Department of the NK Communications as a turner. In late 1941, he was mobilized at Plant No. 18 of the Automotive Industry, where after training he worked as a turner in 1942—44, serving also as secretary of the shop’s Komsomol committee.

By decision of the Kuibyshev Regional Party Committee, in 1944 he was transferred to the NKGB, serving as staff sergeant of the special service. In 1946, he was reassigned to the MGB of the Latvian SSR. That same year he resigned to pursue studies, entering the evening division of the Riga Law School while working as head of the secret office at the REZ plant until 1948. In 1948, he began work as a people’s investigator at the Gulbene District Prosecutor’s Office of the LSSR. In September 1948, he transferred to the full-time division of the Riga Law School, graduating in 1949 and placed at the disposal of the Presidium of the Bar Association. He began practice as a trainee, and in 1949—50 worked as a lawyer at Riga’s 2nd Legal Consultation Bureau. In 1950, he was appointed head of the Rezekne Legal Consultation Bureau.

He carried out significant public work: secretary of the party organization of prosecutors, judges, and lawyers; member of the Rezekne city trade union committee of public employees; dean of the People’s University of Legal Knowledge. Commended repeatedly by the Presidium of the Bar Association and the Knowledge Society. Awarded the medal For Victory over Germany.

According to a 1965 evaluation by the Presidium of the Bar Association, during his tenure he “was insufficiently demanding toward subordinate lawyers … allowed disciplinary violations … failed to foster collegial relations among the staff … and tolerated unequal distribution of cases.”

In 1964, Yakov Ziser was removed from office following disciplinary proceedings and a criminal case. He was convicted under Article 169, part 1 of the RSFSR Criminal Code (systematic extortion), but released from punishment under Articles 5 of the Criminal Procedure Code and 45 of the Criminal Code. In 1965, he was expelled from the Bar Association.

Married to E.M. Ziser (née Kamenetskaya); son, Alexander Ziser (b. 1950).

Member of the Komsomol (1940—49). Member of the VKP(b) since 1951; expelled in 1964 for “abuse, extortion, and insincerity.”