Page "Cheka" Paragraph 20

By the end of January 1918, the Investigatory Commission of Petrograd Soviet ( probably same as of Revtribunal ) petitioned Sovnarkom to delineate the role of detection and judicial-investigatory organs.

It offered to leave, for the VCheKa and the Commission of Bonch-Bruyevich, only the functions of detection and suppression, while investigative functions entirely transferred to it.

The Investigatory Commission prevailed.

On January 31, 1918, Sovnarkom ordered to relieve VCheKa of the investigative functions, leaving for the commission only the functions of detection, suppression, and prevention of so-called crimes.

At the meeting of the Council of People's Commissars on January 31, 1918, a merger of VCheKa and the Commission of Bonch-Bruyevich was proposed.

The existence of both commissions, VCheKa of Sovnarkom and the Commission of Bonch-Bruyevich of VTsIK, with almost the same functions and equal rights, became impractical.

A decision followed two weeks later.