on 21 july 1921 a preliminary meeting of the all-union public committee for the relief of starving (pomgol public committee, всероссийский общественный комитет помощи голодающим) was held and a decree was signed by the central executive committee of the soviet union on the establishment of the committee, as well as its role. the committee was given the sign of the red cross. the committee initially included 63 people, including, bulgakov, famous cultural figures, economist alexander chayanov, the president of the academy of sciences alexander petrovich karpinsky and representatives of russian religious denominations.