Kan Nikolay Samuilovich
(14 August 1910, Riga — ?) — lawyer.
Nikolay Kan was born into the family of an office worker, Samuel Kan (… – 1920). While still a secondary school student, he began tutoring privately. From 1929 to 1936, he studied law at the Faculty of Law, University of Latvia, supporting himself by tutoring. After graduation, he was unable to find work in his profession and continued giving private lessons.
In 1940, after the establishment of Soviet power, he entered the NKVD system as a lecturer in legal disciplines, including criminal law and criminal procedure. In the summer of 1941, he was evacuated to Gorky. In September 1941, he volunteered for the front. Serving in the 201st Latvian Rifle Division, Kan took part in the battles near Moscow and Staraya Russa.
In 1942, after being wounded and suffering a severe concussion, he was discharged as a Group II invalid. He moved to Chkalov, where his family had earlier been evacuated, and worked as head of a Voentorg cafeteria and later as a legal adviser at the Chkalov office of Glavtekhsnabsbyt.
In early 1945, at official request, he returned to Riga and worked as assistant prosecutor of the Moscow District. In June 1945, upon request of the NKVD, he resumed service, working as lecturer and later senior lecturer at the MVD Officer School of the Latvian SSR (1945–1952). He taught criminal law, criminal procedure, and civil procedure.
A member of the VKB(b) since 1948, Kan studied at the Evening Department of the University of Marxism-Leninism (1948–1950). Parallel to his teaching, he also worked as a military investigator. In January 1952, he was discharged from the MVD due to illness. In 1951, he had been allowed to sit for the candidate’s minimum in jurisprudence.
In 1952, Kan was admitted to the Collegium of Advocates of the Latvian SSR. He worked as an attorney in the Valmiera Legal Consultation Office, becoming its head in 1953. In 1955, he was transferred to Riga for legal practice. From 1961 to 1974, he served as head of the Riga 1st Legal Consultation Office; from 1974, he remained as an attorney there until being retired in 1978.
He was twice elected chairman of the Revision Commission and twice a member of the Presidium of the Collegium of Advocates. He also served as Dean of the Law Faculty of the People’s University of Riga’s Oktyabrsky District.
Kan was decorated with the medals:
“For the Defense of Moscow”
“For Battle Merit”
“For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945”
“30 Years of the Soviet Army and Navy”
“For Valiant Labor in Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Lenin’s Birth”
“20 Years of Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War”
“50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR”
“For Excellent Service in the Protection of Public Order”
He also received the Certificate of Honor of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR.
Family
Kan Samuel (… – 1920) — father