In the Russian original, Chapter Six of JUDGEMENT IN MOSCOW ("The Coming of Gorbachov") was called “The Appearance of Tchichikoff” -- a comparison between Mikhail Gorbachov and Russia’s most famous conman, the hero of Gogol’s classic DEAD SOULS. Bukovsky doubted whether Gorbachov was indeed the man, who "did more than any other to change Europe … Continue reading Gorbachov (‘Chichikov’) Appears: Chapter 6.
The fifth chapter in the online version of JUDGEMENT IN MOSCOW offers insight into the beliefs of Soviet Party and KGB rulers, the dubious role of the infiltrated NTS and Bukovsky's own experience of the same, and the years of pressure exerted by the KGB on Andrei Sinyavsky and his wife Maria Rozanova. Bukovsky's view … Continue reading What “They” Believed: Chapter 5
One vivid section of JUDGEMENT IN MOSCOW describes two of the three punishments to which Bukovsky was himself subjected as an active opponent of the Soviet regime. He also served time in prison and the camps. After his conviction, he was sent in 1972 to Vladimir Central, the prison where 'serious offenders' were held, and … Continue reading Deportation or the Madhouse: Chapter 4
From 2013 to 2015, I translated Bukovsky’s JUDGEMENT IN MOSCOW from Russian into English; I also retrieved hundreds of footnotes from the 1995 French edition of the book. Here now, in an ONLINE version (Chapters 1 to 6 thus far), those footnotes are included as links to accessible online translations and some untranslated Russian documents; … Continue reading “Too Few”? Chapters 1-3
[About the Compiler, Vladimir Bukovsky] Over 700 files, some including several documents, are to be found in this archive. In total, they contain more than 4,500 pages. Over three quarters of the notes in Part One, and more than half of the notes in Part Two, of JUDGEMENT in MOSCOW derive from files in this … Continue reading Using this Archive (June 2026)
"So many fantastic lies have been created about Gorbachov and his 'reforms',” wrote Bukovsky in the opening words of Chapter 12, "that we can trust only the documents." Can we? The documents tell a different story, of that we can be sure. Whether it is the complete and final version of events and fully explains … Continue reading “Opinion and Evidence” (Website update 2)
TWO MAJOR COMPONENTS make up this website: [1] classified documents found in 1992 in the CPSU Central Committee archive by Bukovsky, and [2] his last major work, "Judgement in Moscow", where his views are supported by extensive quotations from those clandestine texts. Neither is complete without the other. The documents require interpretation; the assertions in … Continue reading “‘Judgement in Moscow’ & classified CC documents” (Website update 1)
In 2013, a year before the annexation of CRIMEA and the invasion of eastern UKRAINE, Vladimir BUKOVSKY set out the conditions under which Russia could regain the path to true liberty and democracy. In late 1991 the Soviet Union fell apart but as Bukovsky described in his last major work "Judgement in Moscow" (2016) fragments … Continue reading “Only a Trial will do this time” (2013)
SECRETARIAT [1.3]. Complaints by the Soviet population about shortages of cooking salt, in shops and elsewhere [R: 17 February 1981, St 250-10]. 8 pp. ======================= [page one of eight] St 250/10, 17 February 1981 Top Secret RESOLUTION of the Secretariat of the CPSU Central Committee Complaints by working people about disruption in supplies of household … Continue reading Shortages of salt (17 Feb 1981*, St 250/10)
KGB REPORT (Kryuchkov) to Central Committee [3.4; 4]. "Provocative statements" made at October 1988 Moscow conference organised by the Memorial Society [R: 16 Nov 88, 1979-K]. 5 pp. ============================ [page one of five] 16 November 1988, No 1979-K To the CPSU Central Committee Concerning provocative statements made by certain participants of the All-Union Voluntary Historical … Continue reading Founding “Memorial” (1979-K, 16 Nov ’88*)
SECRETARIAT. Ambassador to visit Kalevi SORSA, chairman of Finnish Social Democratic Party and "confidential contact", and congratulate him on his 50th birthday. Includes message to ambassador and preceding note (11 December 1980, 18‑S‑21) from Anatoly CHERNYAEV, p. 3 [R: 16 Dec 80, St 241-108]. 8 pp. ======================================================== [page one of eight] Workers of all Lands, … Continue reading Sorsa, “a confidential contact” (16 Dec 1980*, St 241/108)
Distribution of "Amerika" magazine in USSR SECRETARIAT. Draft letter to Party organizations throughout the USSR about distribution in the Soviet Union of "Amerika", a Russian-language magazine produced by the US State Department [R: 15 August 1956, St 19/2]. 6 pp. =========================== [page one of six] 19/2, 15 August 1956 19/2, 10 August 1956 Draft Letter … Continue reading “Amerika” magazine in USSR (15 Aug ’56*, St 19/2)
KGB REPORT to the Central Committee (Politburo) by Vladimir KRYUCHKOV, new KGB head (1988-1991) on Andrei SAKHAROV’s funeral [R: 20 Dec 89, 3 pp. 2568-K]. 3 pp. ============================= [page one of three] kb-4 [two illegible words] DISTRIBUTED No. 1658. Secret '177' Copy No. 2. 20 December 1989, No. 2568-K. To the CPSU Central Committee [STAMP: … Continue reading Mourning Sakharov’s death (20 Dec ’89*, 2568-K)
Moscow PARTY Committee to CPSU Central Committee. Report on vast anti-Gorbachov demonstration in the centre of the Soviet capital following January events in Lithuania [R: 20 January 1991, Pb 223]. 2 pp. ============================ * [page one of two] Return to the Protocol sector of the CPSU Central Committee General Department [vertical text on left margin] … Continue reading Anti-Gorbachov demo (23 Jan ’91*, Pb 223)
Transcript of KOSYGIN’s March PHONE conversation with Afghan prime minister Mohammed TARAKI. Also included: (a) report by GROMYKO, ANDROPOV, PONOMARYOV and KOSYGIN; (b) 29 June Politburo decision [R: 18 March 1979, No 242]. 19 pp (excerpts). =============================== [page one of nineteen] Top Secret SPECIAL FILE TRANSCRIPT OF A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION between A.N. Kosygin [1] and … Continue reading Kosygin-Taraki call (18 Mar ’79*, N 242)
KGB REPORT (Chebrikov; feature photo). Proposal to issue State pardons for special categories of criminals [dissidents] on condition that they cease their "anti-Soviet" activities [R: 26 Dec 86, 2522-Ch]. 6 pp (excerpts). ====================================== [page one of six] Top Secret 26 December 1986, No 2521-Ch To the CPSU Central Committee Freeing certain categories of individual from … Continue reading Pardons for Dissidents (26 Dec ’86*, 2521‑Ch)
JOINT MEMORANDUM to Central Committee from KGB, USSR Procurator-General and ?Ministry of Justice. Delay trials of “anti-Soviet elements” -- [a] dissidents Anatoly SHCHARANSKY, Alexander GINZBURG, Yury ORLOV and Zviad GAMSAKHURDIA; and [b] "spies" Lubman, Filatov and Nilov -- until a politically suitable time [R: 1 April 1978, 785-A]. 4 pp (excerpts). ============================== [page one of … Continue reading Putting Helsinki Group members & “spies” on trial (1 April ’78*, 785-A)
KGB MEMORANDUM. 'Anti-Soviet elements' intend to hold an international seminar in Moscow, "The KGB and Perestroika", inviting prominent foreigners and former dissidents to attend [R: 27 Jul 88, 1541-K]. 2 pp. ========================== [page one of two] Top Secret 27 July 1988, No 1541-K To the CPSU Central Committee The intention of anti-social elements to hold … Continue reading Block activists’ seminar (27 July ’88*, 1541-K)
Two additions to the website outline events taking place at three levels and on three different TIMESCALES: A Wider World (1914-2014); Russia and the USSR (1917-2015); the Life and Work of Vladimir Bukovsky (1942-2019). * Chronology One: 1914-1976 Covers the period from the outbreak of World War One up to the exchange of Bukovsky in … Continue reading 04. Chronology (1914-2019)
24 April 1979, Pb 150/129 [3.2] – POLITBURO DECISION. Deprivation of citizenship for Eduard KUZNETSOV, Mark DYMSHITS, Valentyn MOROZ, Georgy VINS and Alexander GINZBURG, and their exchange for two US spies [R: 24 April 1979, Pb 150-129]. 10 pp. =========================== SUMMARY In late April members of the Politburo approved the draft decrees of the Presidium … Continue reading Political releases (Apr ’79*)
The Bukovsky Archives 