KGB memorandum to Politburo describing the 25 August Red Square demonstrators, signed by Andropov, Shchelokov (Minister of Internal Affairs) and Malyarov (USSR Procurator’s Office) 5 September 1968 [R 5 September 1968, 2102-A], total of 2 pp. ============================ [page one of two] Secret To the CPSU Central Committee Recently, especially in connection with events in Czechoslovakia, … Continue reading 5 September 1968* (2012-A) Red Square
Category: 3. CPSU and dissent in USSR
“Let History Judge” (Medvedev) 1967-1969
<< September 1967 to February 1969 >> see 14 November 1967 (no number) Hoover Institution annotation: [1] Memorandum to the CPSU Central Committee from V. Stepakov, Chief of the Propaganda Department, S. Trapeznikov, Chief of the Department of Research and Educational Institutions, and V. Shauro, Chief of the Department of Culture, re the manuscript "Under … Continue reading “Let History Judge” (Medvedev) 1967-1969
Essays, Articles, etc. (1977-2016)
Vladimir K. Bukovsky (1943-2019) << A selection >> "Punitive Psychiatry", Foreword to Sidney Bloch and Peter Reddaway, Russia's Political Hospitals, 1977 "The Peace Movement and the USSR", Commentary, 5 January 1982 "Support the Nicaraguan Resistance", New York Times, 18 April 1985 "Is Glasnost a Game of Mirrors?" New York Times, 22 March 1987 "Night of … Continue reading Essays, Articles, etc. (1977-2016)
The Abuse of Psychiatry (1970-1989)
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)
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; 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 CPSU … 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, sent to the Central Committee, directly or via the USSR Supreme … 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
