Cheka was the first Soviet secret police force established by Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin in 1917. Its main objective was to suppress political opposition and dissent in the newly formed Soviet Union. The Cheka employed brutal tactics in its operations, including torture, executions, and imprisonment without trial.

The Cheka was abolished in 1922 and was replaced by the GPU, which in turn was replaced by the NKVD in 1934. Despite its brief existence, the Cheka remains notorious for its repressive tactics and its role in suppressing dissent in the Soviet Union.