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 genuine liberty and true democracy. In late 1991 the Soviet Union fell apart but as Bukovsky described in his last major work, Judgement in Moscow (2016), … Continue reading “Only a Trial will do this time” (Bukovsky)
16 November 1988* (1979-K) Memorial
KGB report (KRYUCHKOV) to Central Committee [3.4; 4]. "Provocative statements" made at the Moscow conference organised by the Memorial Society. [Russian: 16 Nov 88, 1979-K] 5 pp. ============================ [page one of five] 16 November 1988, No 1979-K To the CPSU Central Committee Concerning the provocative statements made by certain participants of the All-Union Voluntary Historical … Continue reading 16 November 1988* (1979-K) Memorial
28 August 1969* (2169-A) Jerusalem
KGB memorandum. Arson at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the demonstration in India organized by the KGB. [Russian: 28 August 1969 – 2169-A] ========================== [page one of one] SPECIAL FILETop Secret The Committee for State Security [KGB]of the USSR Soviet of Ministers 28 August 1969No 2169-AMoscow To the CPSU Central Committee The arson of … Continue reading 28 August 1969* (2169-A) Jerusalem
4 December 1987* (2451-Ch) human rights
Report to Central Committee from leading Politburo members (SHEVARDNADZE, ALEXANDER YAKOVLEV, CHEBRIKOV) about a proposal by activists to hold a seminar on human rights in Moscow (excerpts). Measures are suggested to hinder both the holding of the seminar and the participation of guests from abroad and other parts of the USSR. On 19 December 1987 … Continue reading 4 December 1987* (2451-Ch) human rights
1 April 1978* (785-A) Trials
Joint memorandum to Central Committee from KGB, Procurator-General and ?Ministry of Justice. Delay trials of “anti-Soviet elements” -- dissidents Anatoly SHCHARANSKY, Alexander GINZBURG, Yury ORLOV and Zviad GAMSAKHURDIA (and the "spies" Lubman, Filatov and Nilov) -- until a politically suitable time [Russian: 1 April 1978, 785-A] total 4 pp (excerpts). ============================== [page one of four] Secret … Continue reading 1 April 1978* (785-A) Trials
27 July 1988* (1541-K) Rights activists
KGB memorandum to the Central Committee. About the intentions of 'anti-Soviet elements' to hold an international seminar on "The KGB and Perestroika" in Moscow [Russian: 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 27 July 1988* (1541-K) Rights activists
25 October 1979* (St 182/27) Madrid Conference
Secretariat. Concern about US intentions at forthcoming CSCE conference in Madrid [Russian: 25 October 1979, St 182-27] total 3 pp. ======================= [page one of three] Workers of all Lands, Unite! COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE SOVIET UNION. CENTRAL COMMITTEE [Text along left-hand margin] Return to the CPSU Central Committee (General Department, sector 1) within 15 days … Continue reading 25 October 1979* (St 182/27) Madrid Conference
17 February 1981* (St 250/10) Salt shortages
Secretariat [1.3]. Complaints by the population about shortages of cooking salt [Russian: 17 February 1981, St 250-10] 8 pp. ======================= [page one of eight] St 250/10, 17 February 1981 Top Secret RESOLUTIONof the Secretariat of the CPSU Central Committee Complaints by working people about disruption in supplies of household salt Instruct the Committee of Party … Continue reading 17 February 1981* (St 250/10) Salt shortages
Perestroika (1985-1991)
Twenty nine of the 42 Bukovsky Archive documents of the "Perestroika" period, from June 1985 to December 1991, have been translated into English. To read them, go to Translations in this page's right-hand column and select 4. Perestroika. https://bukovsky-archive.com/category/4-perestroika/
11 March 1975* (547-A) Matzo
KGB memorandum from Andropov, copy for Chernenko. Confiscation of matzo in parcels sent from abroad. [Russian: 11 March 1975, 547-A] ============================ For Comrade K.U. Chernenko only [1] [Stamp] The agreement of the CPSU Central Committee has been obtained,reports Comrade Galkin, V.E., 1 Sector of CPSU Central Committee General Department [dated & signed] 12 March 1975 … Continue reading 11 March 1975* (547-A) Matzo
5 September 1968* (2102-A) Red Square
KGB memorandum to Politburo describing the 25 August Red Square demonstrators, signed by Andropov, Shchelokov (Minister of Internal Affairs) and Malyarov (USSR Procurator’s Office) 5 September 1968. [Russian: 5 September 1968, 2102-A], 2 pp. ============================ [page one of two] Secret To the CPSU Central Committee Recently, especially in connection with events in Czechoslovakia, Litvinov, Bogoraz-Brukhman … Continue reading 5 September 1968* (2102-A) Red Square
Soviet Archives after 1991
Organisation, Access, and Declassification == Theodore Karasik == National Defense Research Institute (RAND Corporation) [Published 1993] INTRODUCTION The post-Soviet archives examined in this monograph are organized into six separate groups: (1) the Russian state archival system; (2) the Russian foreign ministry archives; (3) the Russian Presidential Archive; (4) the Committee for State Security (KGB) archives;(5) … Continue reading Soviet Archives after 1991
How the Soviet Archives were opened and shut
Michael Ledeen, FREEDOM BETRAYED, 1996 Chapter Three (pp. 69-70) [T]he West should have insisted on a proper accounting, if not for the millions of collaborators, certainly for the ruling elites. […] we should have understood the vital importance of making public the historical record of Communist tyranny. […] For a few brief months after the … Continue reading How the Soviet Archives were opened and shut
The Bukovsky Archives 