Gurvich Lev Mendelevich (15.06.1907, Dvinsk, Vitebsk Governorate) — party worker, writer. In 1920, joined the Komsomol. In 1921–30, worked at the Moscow Committee and Central Committee of the Komsomol. In 1930–33 — deputy chairman of the Central Council of the All-Union Society of Proletarian Tourism and Excursions; head of department at “Komsomolskaya Pravda” newspaper; editor of the journal “Na Sushe i na More.” From 1933 — party committee secretary at Plant No. 12 of the People's Commissariat of the Defence Industry. On 8.10.1938, arrested and placed in Taganka Prison. In spring 1939, transferred to Butyrka Prison. On 23.04.1940, acquitted by order of the military prosecutor of the Moscow Military District for lack of corpus delicti, but the decision was not implemented. On 2.09.1940, sentenced to 8 years in a corrective labour camp. Sent by convoy to Sevzheldorlag; worked at the timber exchange. In winter 1940, transferred to Sevdvinlag; worked on the construction of the Northern Pechora Railway, bridges, stations and residential buildings. In 1941, submitted an application to be sent to the front, which was refused. In 1943, his sentence was reduced by one year for shock work. In 1945, G.'s sentence ended, but he was kept in the camp “until the end of the war.” In April 1946, released by a special petition from the Sevdvinlag command to the GULAG, “without the right to leave beyond the camp perimeter.” Worked within the camp system. Then transferred to Kuzbass, to the Kemerovo Housing Construction of the MVD (Belovo). In May 1949, arrested again; held in the internal prison of the Kemerovo MVD; despite the withdrawal of charges, transferred to Kemerovo Oblast Criminal Prison without stated reason. In the summer of that year, sent by convoy to Krasnoyarsk by order of the Special Commission at the NKVD: “As a previously convicted person for especially dangerous crimes, to be placed in indefinite settlement in remote areas of the Krasnoyarsk Territory.” Lived in Lupanovo village, Dolgomostovsky District; worked on the procurement of pine resin for the chemical forestry enterprise. At his wife's petition, transferred to Norilsk. In 1954, after the abolition of exile, returned to Moscow. In 1955, rehabilitated and restored to the party. Engaged in literary activities.

Works: Behind-bars Years. Have the Strength to Remember. Moscow, 1991.