POLITBURO. Approve KGB measures prompting Andrei Sinyavsky to ask for a pardon. Includes text of 30 September 1968 (2281-A), Request from KGB, p 2. [R: 14 January 1969, Pb 111]. 2 pp.

==========================

[page one, on plain paper]

Minute 111
14 June 1969

MINUTED

2. Note from Yu. Andropov of 30 September 1968 (concerning A. Sinyavsky).

(To Comrades Suslov, Andropov, Polyansky, Shelepin, Demichev)

Permit Comrade Andropov to carry out the work in the light of the exchange of views at the meeting of the Politburo.

——————————————————————

[page two, 30 September 1968]

[added: Top] Secret

USSR Committee for State Security [KGB] at the USSR Council of Ministers

30 September 1968, 2281-A, Moscow

To the CPSU Central Committee

Sinyavsky, A.D., who was sentenced by the RSFSR Supreme Court in February 1966 to seven years imprisonment under Article 70, part 1 of the RSFSR Criminal Code, is serving his sentence in the Dubrava [Mordovia SSR] corrective-labour camp.

Observation of his behaviour in the corrective-labour camp has shown that he is thinking ever more often about his future, although he continues to deny his guilt. Unlike Daniel and members of his family, Sinyavsky and his wife do not take part in any anti-social protests.

In order to prevent further use by the West of the conviction of Sinyavsky and Daniel for anti-communist propaganda, we consider it would be expedient to continue work with Sinyavsky so as to persuade him to submit an application to the Presidium of the RSFSR Supreme Soviet for a pardon. If such a declaration is received, we consider it would be possible to satisfy Sinyavsky’s request.

We request authorisation

Chairman of the Committee for State Security

ANDROPOV

=========================

NOTES

Compare this with Chronicle reports: in the first issue (31 April 1968), Sinyavsky was reported to have been offered a pardon (CCE 1.5 [2]), which he refused. This offer, made in 1968, was not repeated (CCE 2.8 [3]).

Sinyavsky was released in June 1971, 15 months before his sentence expired (CCE 20.11 [3]), following a Politburo decision (19 May 1971*, Pb 4/48)

*

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 added to a previously typed document it is indicated by underlined italic script.

Translation and annotation, John Crowfoot

===============================