“Is ‘Glasnost’ a Game of Mirrors?” New York Times, 22 March 1987

The Times, London, 17 March 1987, “Still waiting for real reform”. A collective letter signed by ten emigre authors: Vasily Aksyonov, Vladimir Bukovsky, Edward Kuznetsov, Yuri Lyubimov, Vladimir Maximov, Ernst Neizvestny and Aleksandr Zinoviev.

Translated and republished in Moscow News (Russian edn), 29 March 1987

Classified Documents

1985

11 March 1985* (Pb §1) [4] – Politburo. Information about CHERNENKO’s death and election of GORBACHEV as General Secretary (14 pp). [R 11 Mar 85,  Pb, para 1]

12 September 1985 (no number) [3.3; 4; 6] – International Department. About letter from French academicians to USSR Academy of Sciences in defence of the Soviet scientists ANDREI SAKHAROV, ANATOLY SHCHARANSKY, and SERGEI KOVALYOV  (11 pp). [R 12 Sep 85, No 257]

1986

20 March 1986* (Pb) [4] – Politburo: various topics discussed: situation in Afghanistan, letter from SVETLANA ALLILUYEVA about return to USSR, etc. (2 pp). [R 20 Mar 86, Pb]

01 June 1986*, 1135-Ch [3.3; 4] – KGB to Central Committee. Actions of ideological enemies against perestroika and glasnost (5 pp).  [R 1 Jun 86, 1135-Ch]

26 June 1986* (Pb) [4] – Politburo meeting. ALEXANDER YAKOVLEV report to Politburo about the ongoing Congress of the USSR Writers’ Union (5 pp).  [R 26 Jun 86, Pb]

25 September 1986 * (Pb) [3.3; 4] – Politburo. Pardons and release from imprisonment for political prisoners who agree to sign consent letter asking for pardon (3 pp). R 25 Sep 86, Pb, para 1] TBT

30 September 1986*, 1942-Ch [3.3; 4] – KGB report (Chebrikov). Deprivation of citizenship and expulsion of YURY ORLOV from the USSR (3 pp). [R 30 Sep 86, 3 pp – 1942-Ch]

22 October 1986 * (Pb) [4; 9.1] – Politburo. Expulsion of Soviet diplomats from USA and planned Soviet retaliation (5 pp).  [R 22 oct 86, Pb]

26 December 1986*, 2521-Ch [2.2; 3.3; 4] – KGB report (Chebrikov). Proposal to issue State pardons for special categories of criminals [dissidents] on condition that they cease their “anti-Soviet” activities (6 pp). [R 26 Dec 86, 2522-Ch]

1987

1 January 1987 (no number) [3.4; 4] – BOBKOV cover note to GORBACHEV for transcript (not included) of SAKHAROV conversation with western scientists Frank von Hippel and Jeremy Stone. [R 1 Jan 87]

1 February 1987*, 183-Ch [2.2; 3.3; 4] – KGB report (Chebrikov). The numbers then serving a sentence under Articles 70,  190-1 and 142 of the RSFSR Criminal Code; terms for release (see Notes) were eased (9 pp). [R 1 Feb 87, 183-Ch]

4 February 1987*, 206-B [3.3; 4] – KGB memorandum (Bobkov). The circumstances of ANATOLY MARCHENKO’s death after a prolonged hunger strike in Chistopol Prison (Tatarstan). [R 4 Feb 87 – 206-B]

11 May 1987, Pb 65/12 [3.3; 4] – Politburo decision. Strip IRINA RATUSHINSKAYA and IGOR GERASHCHENKO of their Soviet citizenship (4 pp). [R 11 May 87, Pb 65-12]

11 August 1987*, Pb 164/87 [2.2; 4] – Politburo decision. Set up a new specialised KGB agency to defend the Soviet “constitutional order” (4 pp).  [R 11 Aug 87, 4 pp – Pb 164-87] tbt

4 December 1987*, 2451-Ch [3.3; 4] – KGB report (Chebrikov). International seminar on human rights in Moscow and measures taken to hinder it; includes 19 December report on successful obstruction (9 pp). [R 4 Dec 87]

1988

27 July 1988*, 1541-K [2.2; 3.3; 4] – KGB (Kryuchkov) to the Central Committee. The proposal for an international seminar “The KGB and Perestroika” to be held in December in Moscow (2 pp). [R 27 Jul 88, 1541-K]

15 October 1988*, 1791-K [3.4; 4] – KGB report (Kryuchkov) to Central Committee. The newly created political club “Moscow Tribune” (6 pp).  (Document was kindly provided by the Andrei Sakharov archive.) [R 15 Oct 88, 1791-K] tbt

16 November 1988*, 1979-K [3.4; 4] – KGB report (Kryuchkov) to Central Committee. The provocative actions at the conference arranged by the All-Union “Memorial” society (5 pp). [R 16 Nov 88, 1979-K]

1989

24 January 1989*, Pb 146/VI [4; 9.2] – Politburo. The imminent withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, alternative scenarios (13 pp). [R 24 Jan 89, Pb 146-VI]

14 November 1989*, 2292-K/OV [3.4; 4] – KGB memo (Kryuchkov) to Central Committee. SAKHAROV’s influence on the striking miners in Vorkuta; an analysis of his state of mind and his promises to the miners to provide them with high-quality lawyers (2 pp). [R 14 Nov 89, 2292-K-OV]

15 November 1989, Pb 171/21 [3.6; 4] – Politburo. About improvements in the Soviet laws related to the procedures established for treatment of psychiatric patients (3 pp). [R 15 Nov 89, 3 pp – Pb 171-21]

4 December 1989, 2451-K/OV [3.4; 4] – KGB (Kryuchkov) to Central Committee. An appeal for a pre-emptive nationwide labour strike has been issued by certain members of the People’s Congress of Soviet Deputies (3 pp). (This document was kindly provided by the Andrei Sakharov archive.) [R 4 Dec 89, 3 pp – 2451-K-OV]

8 December 1989 *, 2482-K/ov [3.4; 4] – KGB about ANDREI SAKHAROV’s political activities (4 pp). [R 8 Dec 89, 2482-K-OV]

8 December 1989, 2483-K/ov [3.4; 4] – KGB (Kryuchkov) to Central Committee. The spread of an appeal for a strike throughout the USSR (2 pp). [R 8 Dec 89, 2483-K-OV]

5 December 1989 (no number) [5] – Politburo. Soviet contribution in 1990 to the “International Fund to aid Left-wing and Workers’ Organizations” (see pp. 2-4): total $22 million, all from USSR (4 pp). [R 28 Dec 88, Pb 144-129]

18 December 1989**, 2551-K [3.4; 4] – KGB to Secretariat. Arrangements and KGB actions related to ANDREI SAKHAROV’s death and funeral (2 pp). [R 18 Dec 89, 2551-K]

20 December 1989**, 2568-K [3.4; 4] – KGB on ANDREI SAKHAROV’s funeral (3 pp). [R 20 Dec 89, 3 pp – 2568-K]

1990

6 February 1990**, St-10/3 [4; 7.2] – Secretariat. Discontinuation of illegal crossing to the Soviet territory by activists of the Iraqi Communist Party en route to other countries (7 pp). [R 6 Feb 90, St 10-3]

22 February 1990, St-112/116 [1.2; 4] – Secretariat. Distribution in the USSR of periodical publications from communist and socialist countries (4 pp). [R 22 Feb 90, St 112-116]

30 May 1990, St 116 [1.4; 4] – Secretariat. Preparations for Conference of Russian Federation Communist Party. [R 30 May 90, St -116]

28 September 1990*, 06/2-439 [4; 5] – Central Committee. Problems arising from the sequestration of the East German Party archives by the FRG authorities; the response of the CPSU (7 pp). [R 28 Sep 90, No 06-2-439]

24 October 1990*, Pb 1193 [4] – Politburo. Report about the congress of the newly-formed “Democratic Russia” movement and its anti-Communist stance (7 pp). [R 24 Oct 90, 7 pp – Pb 1193]

1991

11 January 1991* (no number) [2.2; 4] – Central Committee. Report from Committee officials in Lithuania about the attempted takeover by the “Committee for National Salvation”(4 pp). [R 11 Jan 91]

23 January 1991*, Pb 223 [4] – Moscow Party Committee to Central Committee. About large (“150,000” strong) anti-Gorbachev demonstration in Moscow following the Lithuanian events (2 pp). [R 20 Jan 91, Pb 223]

15 February 1991, No 01499 [1.4; 4] – List of documents bearing GORBACHEV’s request for specific actions in 1990 (13 pp). [R 15 Feb 91, No 01499]

15 April 1991 (no number) [4] – About miners’ strike and necessary measures to stabilize situation in the USSR (6 pp). [R 15 Apr 91]

19 April 1991, St 1044 [4] – Secretariat. Discussions and negotiations with leaders of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia (12 pp). [R 19 Apr 91, 12 pp – St 1044]

28 June 1991 (no number) [4; 6] – About political dialogue with foreign parties and political organizations. (5 pp.) (Document kindly provided by Mr. Oleg Gordievsky.) [R 28 Jun 91]

24 July 1991 (no number) [4; 5] – Secretariat. Payment of debts owed by a firm belonging to the Finnish Communist Party (5 pp). [R 18 Jul 91, St 70-5]

10 August 1991*, 1565-K [3.4; 4] – Letter of KGB Director to the committee of the International Sakharov Congress “Peace, Progress and Human Rights” (3 pp). [R 10 Aug 91, 3 pp – 1565-K] tbt

5 December 1991*, No 90-680 [4] – Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. Annulment of BUKOVSKY’s 1967 conviction. [Russian: 5 Dec 91]

1992

31 December 1992** (no number) [4; 9.2] – Letter to Chairman of the RF Constitutional Court. Request for 27 Central Committee documents about Afghanistan, to be included in the case of the CPSU (5 pp). [R 31 Dec 92]