Politburo of the 12th Congress of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks)

The Politburo of the 12th Congress of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) refers to the composition of the Political Bureau (Politburo) elected at the 12th Congress of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks), held in Moscow from April 17-25, 1923. The Politburo was the supreme policy-making authority within the Party and, by extension, the Soviet Union.

Following the 12th Congress, the members of the Politburo were:

• Full Members:

  • Leon Trotsky
  • Joseph Stalin
  • Grigory Zinoviev
  • Lev Kamenev
  • Nikolai Bukharin
  • Alexei Rykov
  • Mikhail Tomsky

• Candidate Members:

  • Vlas Chubar
  • Grigory Sokolnikov
  • Mikhail Kalinin

The composition of the Politburo reflected the ongoing power struggles and shifting alliances within the Party leadership following Vladimir Lenin's declining health. The 12th Congress itself was marked by debates surrounding economic policy, the national question, and the "Lenin Enrollment," aimed at expanding Party membership. The Congress occurred against the backdrop of Lenin's failing health, which significantly influenced the political dynamics and the maneuvering for succession among the leading Bolsheviks. The subsequent history of the members of this Politburo is marked by the Great Purge, executions, and political marginalization, reflecting the brutal power struggles of the Stalinist era.