KGB to Central Committee. Deportation from FRG of the Soviet historian Mikhail Voslensky. Extend his Soviet travel passport, but abduct and forcibly return him to the USSR if necessary. [R 30 April 1972, 1176-A] total 2 pp.

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TOP SECRET

USSR Committee of State Security [KGB]
of the USSR Council of Ministers
30 April 1972
No.1176-A
Moscow

To the CPSU Central Committee

On 5 March 1972 Mikhail Voslensky (born 1920, Russian, non-Party member, single), a senior research associate at the USSR Academy of Sciences’ Institute of History, travelled to the FRG on a private visa at the personal invitation of [West German] President Heinemann.

On 29 April 1972 State Secretary Frank at the FRG Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Comrade Falin, the Soviet ambassador in Bonn, that Voslensky had requested the FRG authorities to extend his visa to stay in the country for 2-3 years, and also asked for help in extending his Soviet foreign travel passport for the same period of time. In support of his request Voslensky said he wanted to engage in scholarly activities and did not express any political motivation. Frank said that Voslensky’s behaviour has aroused a certain suspicion and, consequently, the FRG government does not want to prolong his stay in the country. At the same time the West German side cannot openly refuse to extend his visa. It fears that Voslensky could make an appeal to the public and it cannot exclude the possibility that, as a last resort, Voslensky might go to the police and ask for asylum with all the consequences that entails.

In the present complicated political situation within the country such a turn of events, in Frank’s opinion, would be extremely undesirable. In view of this, Frank stated that, in the opinion of the West German side,

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the best solution would be to prolong Voslensky’s Soviet [foreign travel] passport and West German visa for 2-3 months.

For a long while Voslensky has specialised in West German issues and has frequently participated in various international congresses. Earlier, when travelling abroad on such trips, he carried out particular tasks for the KGB to obtain political information.

Bearing in mind that Voslensky is in the FRG at the personal invitation of President Heinemann it would seem expedient to agree to Frank’s suggestion about prolonging Voslensky’s visa, on condition that the West German agencies take measures to ensure there are no undesirable acts on his part.

At the same time we should suggest to the West German side, through the Soviet ambassador in Bonn and KGB contacts, that Voslensky be secretly removed to the Soviet Union if the need arises.

We request authorisation

CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE FOR STATE SECURITY

[signature] ANDROPOV

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NOTES

Voslensky remained in West Germany and four years later was deprived of his Soviet citizenship (5 November 1976, Pb 33/2), see 31 December 1981* document.

General

1. Notes and additions by translator and editor are bracketed, thus [ ];
2. Text added by hand is indicated in italic script;
3. when a handwritten phrase, figure or word has been inserted
in a previously typed document it is indicated by underlined italic script.

Translation, John Crowfoot