(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
Only a Trial will do This Time (2013)
On Sunday, 18 March 2018, Vladimir Putin ran for the Russian presidency for a fourth time and won easily in the first round, claiming 77% of votes cast (by 68% of the electorate), in a contest that was neither free nor fair. Following the murder of Boris Nemtsov, early in 2015, his most prominent opponent … Continue reading Only a Trial will do This Time (2013)
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)
The Peace Movement and the Soviet Union (1982)
Commentary, 5 January 1982 "Peace will be preserved and strengthened if the people take the cause of peace into their own hands and defend it to the end" Joseph Stalin, 1952 The “struggle for peace” has always been a cornerstone of Soviet foreign policy. Indeed, the Soviet Union itself rose out of the ashes of … Continue reading The Peace Movement and the Soviet Union (1982)
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)
6 February 1990* (St 10/1) Soviet Red Cross
Secretariat. Subsidies from the Soviet Red Cross for Moscow-based correspondents of Party and "fraternal" newspapers in capitalist and developing countries (4 pp). [R 6 Nov 90, St 10-1] total 4 pp (excerpt). ========================= The “living expenses” of Moscow-based correspondents for these fraternal publications also formed part of the bill. From the late 1950s, to disguise … Continue reading 6 February 1990* (St 10/1) Soviet Red Cross
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)
31 January 1938* (Pb 57/48) Great Terror
Dealing with “Anti-Soviet Elements”. Politburo accepts NKVD request to increase quotas for 1st category arrests (executions) and 2nd category arrests in 22 Republics and Regions across the USSR. [Russian: 31 January 1938, Pb 57-48] total 2 pp. ==================================== [page one of two] Return within 24 hours to the Central Committee Special Sector STRICTLY SECRET (From Special … Continue reading 31 January 1938* (Pb 57/48) Great Terror
29 December 1980* (Pb 230/34) International Fund
Politburo decision. Financial assistance in 1981 (US $) to Communist Parties and movements (USA, 2 million; France, 2 million; Finland, 1.4 million; Portugal, 700,000), in total 57 recipients. [Russian: 1980, 29 December] total 5 pp. =================================== [page one of three] Workers of all Lands, Unite! [Text in top left hand corner of page] Must be … Continue reading 29 December 1980* (Pb 230/34) International Fund
31 December 1938* [Stalin] Great Terror
Stalin’s written permission for the Krasnoyarsk Region (Siberia) to carry out several thousand additional “1st category arrests” (executions). The instruction was written in pencil on a small, plain slip of paper. [R 31 December 1938] ======================================= Permit Krasnoyarsk Region 6,600 additional ‘1st category’ arrests. For Stalin, I.V. ====================================== NOTES General 1. Notes and additions by … Continue reading 31 December 1938* [Stalin] Great Terror
6 January 1981* (St 244/11) Peace Forum
Secretariat. About participation of Soviet delegation in the International Youth Peace Forum in Helsinki; file includes 2 February report on the results. [R 6 January 1981, St 244-11] total 18 pp (excerpts). ======================================================================== [pages nine to eleven, request from B. Pastukhov, Secretary of the Komsomol Central Committee] Workers of all Lands, Unite! All-Union Leninist Communist … Continue reading 6 January 1981* (St 244/11) Peace Forum
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
26 August 1977* (No 644/54) Socialist International
Instructions to KGB station chiefs abroad about work on Socialist International (6 pp). [26 August 1977, No 644-54] (Copy of Russian original kindly provided by Mr Oleg Gordievsky.) =========================================================== Station chiefs (as listed) No. 644/54 Guidance-task concerning the Socialist International The new balance of forces in the international arena, the development of the process of … Continue reading 26 August 1977* (No 644/54) Socialist International
21 June 1977* [Soviet embassy in FRG] Social Democratic Party
From the Soviet embassy in FRG. An analytical report about the policies of the West German SDP (17 pp). [R 21 June 1977] Excerpts. ============================================================= [page one] Soviet embassy in the Federal German Republic Secret Copy No. 2 20 May 1977 The policies of the SDP leadership [...] ... there are never-ending discussions in political circles, … Continue reading 21 June 1977* [Soviet embassy in FRG] Social Democratic Party
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
