His role and importance. 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 doubts whether Gorbachov was indeed the man, who "did more than any … Continue reading Chichikov Reappears (Gorbachov)
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 Theodore Karasik, RAND Corporation: Soviet Archives after 1991 (1993)
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 Soviet Archives were opened — and shut
In Judgement in Moscow (Chapter Six: 6.1 The Letter of the Ten), Vladimir BUKOVSKY writes in passing with irony and scepticism of the Western reaction, in April 1986, to the explosion at the Chernobyl reactor and the behaviour of the Soviet leadership led by the "new Chichikov", Mikhail Gorbachov. Again and again, he notes disbelievingly, … Continue reading Secret Chernobyl (1986-2019)
The "abuse of psychiatry for political purposes" was widespread in the Soviet Union. When the release of political prisoners began in 1987 it became apparent that one third of their number were detained, often indefinitely, in psychiatric prison hospitals. All ten documents in this archive concerning this practice may be found in the thematic section … Continue reading The Abuse of Psychiatry (1970-1989)
Documents from the Bulletins of the Cold War International History Project (CWIHP) Compiled, translated into English and republished November 2001 (79 pp); some have been included, in part or in full, in the archive. Compare Section 9.2, USSR and Afghanistan, 1974-1992, which usually includes Russian original. [ See Short Biographies for Afghan, Soviet and other … Continue reading THE USSR AND AFGHANISTAN (1978-1989), CWIHP documents
* Russia one year later Richard PIPES [1] «The Washington Post» (16 August 1992) In the morning hours of 7 July 1992 an unusual spectacle unfolded in the center of Moscow, off Staraya Ploshchad, where until recently the all-powerful Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) had had its headquarters: In … Continue reading “The Past on Trial” (1992): the CPSU hearings
KGB REPORT. The results of preventative and prophylactic work by the KGB since 1959, reducing the need for imprisonment, even for the most serious crimes. Statistical information for 1959-1974 [R: 31 October 1975, Volkogonov]. 2 pp. ============================================= [page one of two] Top Secret SPECIAL FILE Committee for State Security [KGB] at the USSR Council of … Continue reading KGB Warnings (31 Oct 1975*, 2743-A)
A brief passage from Anatoly CHERNYAEV's unpublished "Diary", in which he responds to a report to the Central Committee by ANDROPOV (29 December 1975*, 3213-A) about the statements of foreign communist parties concerning "political prisoners" in the USSR (NSA, document and translation). ==================== 3 January 1976 From interesting things at the Central Committee, in the … Continue reading Chernyaev diary (3 January 1976)
The Bukovsky Archives 