Alexander Chayanov, Александр Васильевич Чаянов (1888-October 3, 1937) was a notable Soviet agrarian economist.

He was a proponent of agricultural cooperation, but was sceptical with respect to indiscriminative introduction of large-scale farms. These views were sharply criticized by Stalin as "defence of kulaks". In 1930 Chayanov was arrested by the "Case of the Labour Peasant Party " (Трудовая крестьянская партия), fabricated by NKVD. The name of the party was taken from a science fiction book written by Chayanov in 1920s. The process was intended to be a show trial, but it fell apart, due to the strong will of the defendants. Nevertheless on the secret trial in 1932 Chayanov was convicted to 5 years of Kazakhstan labor camps. On October 3, 1937 Chayanov was arrested again, tried and shot the same day.

His wife was repressed as well and spent 18 years in labor camps.

Chayanov was rehabilitated in 1987.