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April 21, 1953

Memorandum from L.P. Beria to G.M. Malenkov and to the Presidium of the CC CPSU

In March 1952 before the arrival in Korea of a delegation of the International Association of Democratic Jurists, the Minister of State Security of the USSR, Ignatiev S.D., received a memorandum (to "Denisov") from Glukhov—former adviser of the Ministry of State Security of the DPRK and Smirnov—former adviser of MVD [Ministry of Internal Affairs] DPRK about the fact that with the help of the ambassador of the USSR in the DPRK, Chief Military Adviser to the KPA Razuvaev V.N., two false regions of infection were simulated for the purpose of accusing the Americans of using bacteriological weapons in Korea and China. Two Koreans who had been sentenced to death and were being held in a hut were infected. One of them was later poisoned.

Ignatiev did not report this memorandum, which had special political importance, to anyone. As a result, the Soviet Union suffered real political damage in the international arena. I discovered this document in the archive of the MGB USSR upon receiving the matter at the beginning of April 1953.

I ask your decision regarding [the question of] investigating the circumstances of this question and naming the guilty parties.

Beria

Question regarding Soviet role in falsifying evidence of American biological weapons.

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April 14, 1953

Explanatory Note from Lieutenant Selivanov to L.P. Beria

Selivanov, student at the S.M. Kirov Military-Medical Academy and former adviser to the Military-Medical Department of the KPA, describes how he falsified an outbreak and blamed it on American bacteriological weapons.

April 18, 1953

Explanatory Note from Lt. Gen. V.N. Razuvaev to L.P. Beria

Razuvaev explains the steps taken to make it appear that Americans are using biological weapons in the Korean War. China initially sent reports of such weaponry, and soon after Korea, led by Soviet advisors, joined in the falsification of biological attacks by creating false plague regions with the help of the Korean Ministry of Health. After visits from two international delegations, Korea eventually abandoned its plan to falsely accuse America, while China continued to advance the story.

May 2, 1953

Resolution of the Presidium of the USSR Council of Ministers about Letters to the Ambassador of the USSR in the PRC, V.V. Kuznetsov and to the Charge d’Affaires for the USSR in the DPRK, S.P. Suzdalev

Cease the publication of false evidence accusing the US for using biological weapons in North Korea; punish Soviet Workers involved.

May 11, 1953

Telegram to V.M. Molotov from Beijing from the USSR Ambassador to the PRC, V.V. Kuznetsov

Results of a conversation with Mao Zedong, on 11 May 1953, regarding the falsification of evidence proving US use of biological weapons.

June 1, 1953

Telegram from the USSR Charge d’Affaires in the DPRK, S.P. Suzdalev to V.M. Molotov

North Korea’s response to Soviets about falsification of evidence concerning American use of biological weapons.

June 2, 1953

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A report describing the decision to revoke the CPSU party membership of S.D. Ignatiev.

Document Information

Source

Archive of the President of the Russian Federation. Translated by Kathryn Weathersby.

Original Archive

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Original Uploaded Date

2011-11-20

Type

Memorandum

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Record ID

112027