The state trials of the former leaders of the state and the generalship were the most significant events in the Soviet social life in the second half of 1930-ies. The article studies the influence of the state trials on the everyday life of the citizens. The study analyses the records of general meetings, some dialogues, comments and correspondence of the citizens; it considers the attitude of the urban population towards the participants of the processes, illustrates the methods used for conflict resolution. As a result the author reaches the following conclusion: the attitude of the citizens towards the participants of the state trials was complex, ranging from support of the prosecution up to standing for guiltlessness of the accused. Consequently, the popular majority didn’t favour the government and the party line. Nevertheless, a great many of citizens fell in with the practice of “exposure” and whistleblowing while detecting sympathizers of the accused in the regions. Moreover, the population took advantage of the situation coming from the processes in solving their daily problems, thereby contributing to the escalation of mass repressions.

The state trials of the former leaders of the state and the generalship were the most significant events in the Soviet social life in the second half of 1930-ies. The article studies the influence of the state trials on the everyday life of the citizens. The study analyses the records of general meetings, some dialogues, comments and correspondence of the citizens; it considers the attitude of the urban population towards the participants of the processes, illustrates the methods used for conflict resolution. As a result the author reaches the following conclusion: the attitude of the citizens towards the participants of the state trials was complex, ranging from support of the prosecution up to standing for guiltlessness of the accused. Consequently, the popular majority didn’t favour the government and the party line. Nevertheless, a great many of citizens fell in with the practice of “exposure” and whistleblowing while detecting sympathizers of the accused in the regions. Moreover, the population took advantage of the situation coming from the processes in solving their daily problems, thereby contributing to the escalation of mass repressions.