Grigori Naumovich Voitinsky, born Zarkhin (; 17 April 1893 – 11 June 1953) was a Soviet Communist International (Comintern) official. At age 27, he was sent to the Republic of China in 1920 by the Comintern to contact top prominent Chinese revolutionaries such as Chen Duxiu and establish the infrastructure for a communist party, just before the founding of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Early life
He was born on 17 April 1893 in Nevel to a Russian Jewish family. Voitinsky graduated from school in 1907 and worked as a typesetter and accountant.
Work in the Republic of China
In 1920, the Soviet Union established the Far Eastern Bureau of the Communist International in Siberia. It was directly responsible for managing the establishment of a communist party in the Republic of China and other countries in the region. Soon after the bureau's establishment, Vladimir Vilensky-Sibiryakov sent Voitinsky to China as its representative. Yang Mingzhai served as Voitinsky's interpreter and traveling companion. In April 1920, Voitinsky and his colleagues arrived in the Republic of China on a mission to establish a communist party.
In November 1920, Voitinsky, working with Chen Duxiu and others, issued The Chinese Communist Party Manifesto and started a monthly publication called The Communist Party.
He is considered one of the founders of Soviet Sinology. He wrote several books about contemporary China politics. He died in 1953 during an unsuccessful surgery.
Significance
The significance of Voitinsky in the founding of the Chinese Communist Party remains debated. Some contend that Voitinsky was fundamental in setting the party's formation in motion. Others, including the CCP's Institute of Party History and Literature, contend that Li Dazhao and Chen Duxiu had discussed forming a communist party before Voitinsky arrived in China.