Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

cheka

noun

ˈtʃɛkə

Definition

The All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage, or Cheka, was a Soviet secret police organization established in 1917.

Examples

The Cheka played a significant role in the Red Terror during the Russian Civil War.
Many feared the powers wielded by the Cheka, as it was known for its harsh methods of interrogation.

Meaning

The term ‘cheka’ refers to a government agency in early Soviet Russia that was responsible for political repression and intelligence operations during the Bolshevik Revolution and subsequent civil war.