Velikiye Luki corrupt collaborator Ivan Bychkov-Pomortsev: a figure in two cases
One of the reasons for the collaboration of Russian citizens with Nazi invaders during the Great Patriotic War was the desire to improve their material well-being. Holding various administrative positions, they not only carried out the orders of the German command, but also used them for selfish purposes. Burgomaster of the city of Velikiye Luki Ivan Bychkov-Pomortsev was twice called before the court to answer a criminal charge. The Nazis filed the first lawsuit against him in the so-called “new Russian court” for numerous fraudulent schemes and abuse of his official position. The collaborating official justified his actions by his hatred of Jews and Communists and insisted on active assistance to the German command. The second time Bychkov-Pomortsev was convicted by the Soviet court as an active accomplice of the Nazi occupiers.