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
Category: 4. Perestroika
Secret Chernobyl
In Judgment in Moscow, 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 Gorbachev. Again and again, he notes disbelievingly, Western commentators urged that the new head of … Continue reading Secret Chernobyl
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
Is Glasnost a Game of Mirrors? (1987)
«The New York Times» (22 March 1987) Are Mikhail S. Gorbachev's new policies the historical turning point we have been praying for, signaling the end of oppression and misery in the Soviet Union? Or are we witnessing only a short-lived ''thaw,'' a tactical retreat before the next offensive, as Lenin put it in 1921? True, … Continue reading Is Glasnost a Game of Mirrors? (1987)
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)
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
6 February 1990** (St-10/3) Iraq
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] =========================================================== [Translator’s notes are bracketed] SPECIAL FOLDER TOP SECRET 522 ...CT-10/3g of 11.06.90 RESOLUTION Of the Secretariat of the CC of the Communist Party of the … Continue reading 6 February 1990** (St-10/3) Iraq
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
20 March 1986* (Pb) Afghanistan, Alliluyeva
Politburo. Various topics discussed: situation in Afghanistan, renaming the L.I. Brezhnev icebreaker, and letter from SVETLANA ALLILUYEVA about return to USSR (2 pp). [R 20 Mar 86, Pb] Excerpt =========================================================== [page one of two] Top Secret Single copy (draft record) [...] [page two] 41. [...] GORBACHEV. There is one matter I have left until last. On … Continue reading 20 March 1986* (Pb) Afghanistan, Alliluyeva
31 December 1992* [Presidential Administration] Afghanistan
Letter to Chairman of the RF Constitutional Court. Request for 27 Central Committee documents about Afghanistan to be added to the case materials for the defence at the Trial of the CPSU. [R 31 Dec 92] total 5 pp. See 9.2 The USSR and Afghanistan for translations of most of the documents listed below. ============================ … Continue reading 31 December 1992* [Presidential Administration] Afghanistan
5 December 1991* (No 90-680) Bukovsky
Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. Annulment of BUKOVSKY’s 1967 conviction. [Russian 5 Dec 91] ====================================== [page one of one] RSFSR Supreme Court 103289 Moscow, Kuibyshev Square, 3/7 5 December 1991 No. 680 / 90 In response to No.: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN In accordance with the resolution of the Presidium of the RSFSR … Continue reading 5 December 1991* (No 90-680) Bukovsky
20 December 1989** (2568-K) Sakharov
KGB on ANDREI SAKHAROV’s funeral (3 pp). [R 20 Dec 89, 3 pp – 2568-K] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Translator's notes are bracketed, tr Marta Olynyk] kb-4 [two illegible words] DISTRIBUTED No. 1658 Secret 177 Copy no.: 2 20.12.89 No. 2568-K CC CPSU On the Completion of Mourning Events in Connection with the Death of A. [Andrei] D. … Continue reading 20 December 1989** (2568-K) Sakharov
4 December 1987* (2451-Ch) human rights
Report to Central Committee from leading Politburo members (SHEVARDNADZE, ALEXANDER YAKOVLEV, CHEBRIKOV) about a proposal by activists to hold a seminar on human rights in Moscow (excerpts). Measures are suggested to hinder both the holding of the seminar and the participation of guests from abroad and other parts of the USSR. On 19 December 1987 … Continue reading 4 December 1987* (2451-Ch) human rights
23 January 1991* (Pb 223) demonstration
Moscow Party Committee to CPSU Central Committee. Report on a vast anti-Gorbachev demonstration in the centre of the Soviet capital following the January events in Lithuania. [R 20 January 1991, Pb 223] ==================================== [page one of two] Return to the Protocol sector of the CPSU Central Committee General Department [vertical text on left margin - … Continue reading 23 January 1991* (Pb 223) demonstration
11 January 1991* (No 00766) Lithuania
Central Committee. Report from Committee officials in Lithuania about the attempted takeover by the "Committee for National Salvation" (4 pp). [R 11 Jan 91] ========================================================== [page one of four] To the CPSU Central Committee About the events in Lithuania Senior staff of the [CPSU] Central Committee (Comrades Kazyulin and Udovichenko) who are in Lithuania, report … Continue reading 11 January 1991* (No 00766) Lithuania
24 October 1990* (Pb 1193) Democratic Russia
Politburo. Report about the founding congress of the "Democratic Russia" movement and its anti-Communist stance (7 pp). [R 24 Oct 90, 7 pp - Pb 1193] Excerpt. =========================================================== [page one of seven] No Pb 1193 24 October 1990 To Members of the CPSU Central Committee Politburo, Secretaries of the CPSU Central Committee, members of the … Continue reading 24 October 1990* (Pb 1193) Democratic Russia
28 September 1990* (06/2-439) GDR Archives
Central Committee. Periodic threat that the East German Party archives will be seized by the FRG authorities; the response of the CPSU, September 1990 to March 1991 (7 pp). [R 28 Sep 90, No 06-2-439] Excerpt. =========================================================== [page one of seven] Send to Politburo members and Secretaries of the CPSU Central Committee for voting October … Continue reading 28 September 1990* (06/2-439) GDR Archives
