To the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR

On March 13 [of this year] the Military Tribunal of the
Supreme Court condemned me to death by shooting. I ask for
clemency.

My guilt before the party and the country is great, but I
have a passionate desire and, I think, enough strength to expiate
it.

I ask you to believe that I am not a completely corrupt
person. In my life there were many years of noble, honest work
for the revolution. I can still prove that even after having
committed so many crimes, it is possible to become an honest
person and to die with honor.

I ask that you spare my life.

March 13, 1938

[signed] A.I. Rykov

[stamp] True copy