Gregory Zinoviev was born in Yelizavetgrad, Russian Empire (now Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine), to Jewish dairy farmers, who educated him at home.
Between 1924 and 1934 the city was known as Zinovyevsk (Ukrainian: Зінов'євськ[zʲinɔvɛ́vsʲk]).
Gregory Zinoviev was known in early life under Apfelbaum or Radomyslsky.
He later adopted several designations, such as Shatski, Grigoriev, Grigori and Zinoviev, by the two last of which he is most frequently called.
He studied philosophy, literature and history.
He became interested in politics and joined the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP) in 1901.
He was a member of its Bolshevik faction from the time of its creation in 1903.
Between 1903 and the fall of the Russian Empire in February 1917, he was a leading Bolshevik and one of Vladimir Lenin's closest associates, working both within Russia and abroad as circumstances permitted.
He was elected to the RSDLP's Central Committee in 1907 and sided with Lenin in 1908 when the Bolshevik faction split into Lenin's supporters and Alexander Bogdanov's followers.
Zinoviev remained Lenin's constant aide-de-camp and representative in various socialist organizations until 1917.
Gregory Zinoviev was born in Yelizavetgrad, Russian Empire (now Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine), to Jewish dairy farmers, who educated him at home. Between 1924 and 1934 the city was known as Zinovyevsk (Ukrainian: Зінов'євськ[zʲinɔvɛ́vsʲk]). Gregory Zinoviev was known in early life under Apfelbaum or Radomyslsky. He later adopted several designations, such as Shatski, Grigoriev, Grigori and Zinoviev, by the two last of which he is most frequently called. He studied philosophy, literature and history. He became interested in politics and joined the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP) in 1901. He was a member of its Bolshevik faction from the time of its creation in 1903. Between 1903 and the fall of the Russian Empire in February 1917, he was a leading Bolshevik and one of Vladimir Lenin's closest associates, working both within Russia and abroad as circumstances permitted. He was elected to the RSDLP's Central Committee in 1907 and sided with Lenin in 1908 when the Bolshevik faction split into Lenin's supporters and Alexander Bogdanov's followers. Zinoviev remained Lenin's constant aide-de-camp and representative in various socialist organizations until 1917.
Grigory Zinoviev