The abuse of psychiatry for political purposes was widespread in the Soviet Union. One third of political prisoners were detained, often indefinitely, in psychiatric prison hospitals. All ten documents in this archive concerning this practice may be found in the thematic section of the contents index -- https://bukovsky-archive.com/3-6-the-abuse-of-psychiatry-for-political-purposes/ They include the key 1970 report by … Continue reading The Abuse of Psychiatry
Category: 3. CPSU and dissent in USSR
20 January 1977* (123-A) Helsinki Groups
KGB report. Measures to halt the anti-Soviet activities of the “Helsinki Watch Committee in the USSR": Yury ORLOV, Alexander GINZBURG, N.D. RUDENKO, Tomas VENCLOVA. Includes Secretariat Resolution, St 1/15 (25 January 1977), p. 1. [R 20 January 1977, St 1-15] Total 6 pp. ==================== Top Secret Special File Proposal to the Central Committee of the … Continue reading 20 January 1977* (123-A) Helsinki Groups
18 February 1977* (Pb 46/X) Cyrus Vance
Instructions to Anatoly DOBRYNIN, Soviet ambassador to the USA, concerning a discussion with Secretary of State Cyrus VANCE about human rights. [R 18 February 1977, Pb 46-X] total 7 pp (excerpt). ================= Proletariats of the World unite! COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE SOVIET UNION. THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE Top Secret No P46/X To: comrades Brezhnev, Podgomy, Kosygin, … Continue reading 18 February 1977* (Pb 46/X) Cyrus Vance
Chernyaev diary (3 January 1976)
A brief passage from Anatoly CHERNYAEV's unpublished "Diary", in which he responds to a report to the Central Committee by ANDROPOV (29 December 1975*, 3213-A) about the statements of foreign communist parties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)
22 June 1978* (Pb) Shcharansky
Yury Andropov briefs Politburo on forthcoming trial of Anatoly SHCHARANSKY, arrested in mid-March the previous year. (MHG 30th anniversary) total 2 pp. =================== V-118 Top secret The only copy Working paper SESSION OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CC CPSU June 22, 1978 Chaired by Comrade Brezhnev, L.I. In attendance: Comrades Andropov, U.V.; Grishin, V.V.; Gromyko, … Continue reading 22 June 1978* (Pb) Shcharansky
1 March 1977* (St 46/15) Bukovsky
Resolution of Secretariat. Proposal for Soviet press release concerning BUKOVSKY's meeting with US President JIMMY CARTER [Russian 1 March 1977, St 46-15], total 7 pp. ===================== [page one of seven] No. St 46/15 of 1 March 1977 TOP SECRET RESOLUTION Central Committee Secretariat of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Draft of a press … Continue reading 1 March 1977* (St 46/15) Bukovsky
5 January 1977* (22-A) Helsinki Groups
KGB memorandum. Measures to stop the proliferation of anti-Soviet activities by the "Helsinki Watch Committee in USSR", and its sub-committees set up in Ukraine and Lithuania. [Russian 5 January 1977, 22-A] total 2 pp. ======================= Top Secret CC CPSU About measures to end the hostile activity Of members of the so-called “Group For Assistance in … Continue reading 5 January 1977* (22-A) Helsinki Groups
15 November 1976* (2577-A) Helsinki Groups
KGB report. About the anti-Soviet activities of the so-called Helsinki Groups in USSR, and measures to counter their activities. [R 15 November 1976, 2577-A] total 3 pp. ====================== [page one of three] Secret USSR COMMITTEE For State Security At the USSR Council of Ministers 15 November 1976 No. 2577-A Moscow To CPSU Central Committee About … Continue reading 15 November 1976* (2577-A) Helsinki Groups
The Status of these Archives
(July 2018; lightly revised November 2019) In 1992, for a period of five months, Vladimir Bukovsky was given access to the archives of the CPSU Central Committee in Moscow. The new Russian government of Boris Yeltsin asked him to speak as a witness on its behalf at the forthcoming "trial of the Communist Party" (the … Continue reading The Status of these Archives
Punitive Psychiatry (1977)
Bloch and Reddaway, Russia’s political hospitals (1977), Foreword The peculiar features of the Soviet political system, the Communist ideology, the uncertainties and difficulties of the science of psychiatry, the labyrinths of the human conscience – all these have weirdly woven themselves together to create a monstrous phenomenon, the use of medicine against man. Paradoxical though … Continue reading Punitive Psychiatry (1977)
Alternative sources (1968-1991)
The 63 published issues of the bi-monthly CHRONICLE OF CURRENT EVENTS (April 1968 to June 1982) can all be accessed in English translation. The Russian original ХРОНИКА ТЕКУЩИХ СОБЫТИЙ has been available online since 2008. For example -- A contemporary account of the events leading up to Alexander Solzhenitsyn's expulsion on 13 February from the USSR, … Continue reading Alternative sources (1968-1991)
10 September 1976* (2066-A) Abuse of Psychiatry
The KGB, USSR Ministry of Health and others write to Central Committee about Western "anti-Soviet propaganda" concerning the abuse of psychiatry for political purposes. [Russian: 10 September 1976, 2066-A] total 18 pp. The file contains eight documents, dated 10 September to 28 December 1976, from a variety of organisations to the Central Committee, directly or … Continue reading 10 September 1976* (2066-A) Abuse of Psychiatry
26 December 1980* (St 243/57) Denmark
Secretariat. Letter to chairman of Danish Social Democratic Party about the arrest of refusenik Victor BRAILOVSKY, explaining his “criminal activities” (3 pp). [R 26 December 1980, St 243-57] =================================== [Text from a different document, presumably International Department to Central Committee] The chairman of the Danish Social Democratic Party, Prime Minister A[nker] Jorgensen has sent a … Continue reading 26 December 1980* (St 243/57) Denmark
9 December 1986* (2407-Ch) Sakharov and Bonner
Secretariat. Measures relating to Andrei SAKHAROV; annulment of decree for Sakharov’s exile and pardon for his wife Elena BONNER (8 pp). [Russian: 9 Dec 86, 2407-Ch] =================================== [pages one to four] Secret 9 December 1986 To the CPSU Central Committee Concerning suggestions about A.D. Sakharov [...] The decision that it was necessary to halt Sakharov’s … Continue reading 9 December 1986* (2407-Ch) Sakharov and Bonner
27 January 1967* (Pb 32/5) Sinyavsky-Daniel
KGB report. Measures taken against people defending SINYAVSKY and DANIEL (5 pp). [Russian: 27 January 1967, No 162] Excerpts. ===================================== [page one of five, 9 February 1967] 9 February 1967, Minute No. 32 Not to be included in the Minutes (1.) This matter is not to be included for discussion. (2.) Instruct Comrades Suslov, Pelshe … Continue reading 27 January 1967* (Pb 32/5) Sinyavsky-Daniel
15 March 1977* (Pb 49/XV) Letter to PCF
Politburo. Final version of the letter to leaders of the French Communist Party (total 23 pp). For draft see above, 22 February, St 45/8. [R 15 March 1977, Pb 49-XV] Excerpts. =============================================================== [page two] Item 15, Minutes No 49 Top Secret To the Central Committee of the French Communist Party Dear Comrades ----------------------------------------------- [page two] In … Continue reading 15 March 1977* (Pb 49/XV) Letter to PCF
8 January 1980* (Pb 177/X) Sakharov
Politburo decision. Internal exile for Andrei SAKHAROV and deprive him of all State awards (3 pp). [R 8 January 1980, Pb 177/X] Excerpt. =========================================================== [pages one and two are, respectively, an announcement by TASS and the draft Decree about depriving Sakharov of all his State awards] [page three] draft Decree of the USSR Supreme Soviet … Continue reading 8 January 1980* (Pb 177/X) Sakharov
14 March 1978* (Pb 97/54) Rostropovich
Formal, jointly signed request (March 1978, 459-A) by KGB, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Central Committee that Mtsislav Rostropovich and his wife Galina Vishnevskaya be stripped of their Soviet citizenship (5 pp). [R 14 March 1978, Pb 97-54] Excerpts. =========================================================== [page one of five] To item 54 of Minutes No. 97 Secret To the CPSU … Continue reading 14 March 1978* (Pb 97/54) Rostropovich
15 December 1976* (Pb 38/46) Corvalan
Politburo. Decision on exchange of CORVALAN for BUKOVSKY. Contains three other documents: instructions to Soviet ambassadors in Bern and Washington (A. Dobrynin); and jointly signed submission (p. 6) by Andropov, Gromyko and Ponomarev (14 December 1976, 2816-A) about the timing and logistics of the exchange (total 6 pp). [R 15 December 1976, Pb 38-46] Excerpt. … Continue reading 15 December 1976* (Pb 38/46) Corvalan
5 January 1966* (St 132/11) Sinyavsky-Daniel
Secretariat. Preparations for the trial of Andrei SINYAVSKY and Yuly DANIEL. Includes joint memorandum from KGB chairman and Procurator-General (23 December 1965, 2843-S), pp 2-7, and February 1966 report on outcome of trial, pp 8-9. [R 5 January 1966, St 132-11] total 9 pp. ======================================= [page one of nine] Workers of all Lands, Unite! COMMUNIST … Continue reading 5 January 1966* (St 132/11) Sinyavsky-Daniel
4 May 1975* (1103-A) May Day
4 May 1975, 1103-A [2.2; 3.2] – KGB memorandum. The situation during the 1975 May Day celebrations. [Russian: 4 May 1975, 1103-A] ====================== [page one of one] Secret State Security Committee [KGB] at the USSR Soviet of Ministers 4 May 1975, No 1103-A Moscow To the CPSU Central Committee The 1975 May Day celebrations proceeded … Continue reading 4 May 1975* (1103-A) May Day
18 December 1989** (2551-K) Sakharov
KGB to Secretariat. Arrangements and KGB actions related to ANDREI SAKHAROV’s death and funeral (2 pp). [R 18 Dec 89, 2551-K] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- English Translation by Marta Olynyk, July 2010 [Translator's notes are bracketed 176 [Stamp in upper right-hand comer: indecipherable words except for “Copy no.”] 18.12.89 No. 2551-K CC CPSU [Stamp: “DECLASSIFIED”; illegible words, except … Continue reading 18 December 1989** (2551-K) Sakharov
14 July 1983** [International Dept] Jewish emigration
[3.3; 9.1] – Letter from US congressmen (376 signatures) concerning emigration of 2,000 Soviet Jews and response outlined by International Department (20 pp). [R 14 July 1983] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- English translation by Marta D. Olynyk, December 2010 [Translator's notes are bracketed, handwritten text is italic] [handwritten numeral "109" at the top of the document] Endorsed by … Continue reading 14 July 1983** [International Dept] Jewish emigration
4 September 1968* [Pb] Litvinov
A letter to MIKOYAN from Ivy LITVINOV [née Low] in defence of her grandson, Pavel, arrested after the Red Square demonstration; forwarded by Mikoyan to BREZHNEV. [R 4 September 1968] ============================================================= [page one of one] Copy Dear Anastas Ivanovich, I'm writing this in distress: my grandson Pavel Litvinov is in Lefortovo prison. I don't know … Continue reading 4 September 1968* [Pb] Litvinov
19 May 1977* (Pb 56/68) Human rights
Politburo. Instructions to Soviet ambassadors on human rights issues (21 pp). [R 19 May 1977, Pb 56-68] Excerpt. ========================================================== [page two] Secret To all Soviet ambassadors and representatives Recently a wide and coordinated campaign has unfolded in the West concerning the phoney “violations of human rights” in the Soviet Union and other socialist countries. Those … Continue reading 19 May 1977* (Pb 56/68) Human rights
