The newspaper “Pravda” is a source on the history of political repressions 1937-1938

The article considers the “Pravda” newspaper as a source on the history of political repressions of 1937‒1938.Based on an analysis of the structure of the periodical, the content of published materials, their grouping byform and nature, the information position and influence of the newspaper “Pravda” on the establishment of Stalinism in Soviet society is revealed. It is shown that the newspaper served as a communication tool to justify and glorify Stalin’s repressive policies as a means of ensuring the security of the Soviet Union surrounded by capitalist countries. The materials of the newspaper’s open trials were studied by comparison with scientific works, studies on the topic of repression and with official data in collections of documents published in recent years, the accusations against the defendants of which were found to be false. A compre-hensive analysis was carried out of how the Central Committee, through special resolutions, gave the news-paper the role of propaganda in the formation of positive attitudes and public opinion in socio-political life, subjugated the masses and made them dependent on Stalin’s policies in order to convince Soviet society and foreign countries of the correctness of the policy of repression. The activities of the “Pravda” newspaper in the interests of Soviet ideology, its role in the implementation of the repressive campaign is shown, and an assessment is given from the point of view of new, critical positions formed in Russian historical science.