Pompolit (Помполит), or in merchant navy jargon pompa, was a political officer rank on Soviet merchant and passenger ships as well as other ships sailing outside USSR borders.
It is not to be confused with the Political commissar, which was the equivalent rank in military units.
The Soviet pompolits were tasked with ensuring the crew conformed to the following rules (list not complete): Extensive knowledge of English for low-ranking sailors could be dangerous.
I may talk with the chief stevedore about anything including anti-Soviet conversations and the pompolit will understand nothing!
"Mostly, Soviet merchant navy officers, including captains, spoke only poor English because they were not taught the language properly to reduce their ability to learn about the world outside the Soviet Union.