Skip to content

December 4, 1982

Telegram, [redacted] to Comrade Mielke

This document was made possible with support from The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Telegram

(Delete Where Inapplicable)

Arrival                                                                                                                            

Exit

Sender: Sofia – XXXX

Recipient: Berlin – Mielke (Additionally to the Comrades XXXX, XXXX and XXXX [redacted]

Sofia, December 4, 19XX

Dear Comrade Mielke!

The arrest of the employee of the representation of the Bulgarian airline “BALKAN” in Rome, Sergej Iwanow Antonow [Sergei Ivanov Antonov], and the allegation that he contributed to the attempted assassination of the Pope, have no basis in fact. Antonow is not in communication with our reconnaissance services and has nothing in common with Agza and the accomplices. Strengthening the “body of facts” of the hostile campaign of the American propaganda centers in order to bring forward proof that Agza was trained by our agencies at the instruction of the KGB of the USSR is the goal of this grave provocation. In October of this year, the Italian lead investigator Ilario Martella visited the USA in order to – as he himself stated to the press – study the sources of the article published in the magazine “Readers Digest” by the American journalist Clair Sterling and the materials for the association NBC’s movie which are full of slander in the direction that the attempted assassination was a work of our agencies and the agencies of the KGB. This visit was the preparation for a reinforcement of the hostile campaign of the Western centers. Clearly this represents a large-scale active measure by the CIA and the Italian security agencies in order to strengthen the anti-communist propaganda globally.

Indications are available to our agencies that XXXX [redacted] who lives in Rome and the American TV journalist XXXX [redacted] who is active in Paris have contact with CIA officers. XXXX [redacted] has lived for many years as a US citizen in Rome and is known among foreign correspondents for her close contacts with the CIA and with the news service of the US embassy.

According to statements from the investigation procedure against Agza, the investigating judges already received a letter from XXXX [redacted] in the first days after the assassination attempt in which he informed them that according to information from his sources in the CIA, the assassination attempt was the work of the agencies of the KGB of the USSR.

It is requested that we be supported in defending against the hostile campaign of the Western propaganda centers and that we be transmitted materials regarding XXXX, XXXX and XXXX [redacted] in case any are available to you.

Our number: 1329/82                                                             

With socialist greetings

XXXX [redacted]

In this letter sent from Sofia to Erich Mielke, the author rejects that Sergei Ivanov Antonov had anything to do with the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II.



Related Documents

March 31, 2005

Press Release about the Alleged MfS Evidence regarding the Assassination Attempt on the Pope from 1981

Documents from the Stasi archives on the anti-Bulgarian campaign surrounding the investigation of the assassination attempt.

August 26, 1982

Telegram, Mitew to Comrade Damm

A Bulgarian intelligence official informs their East German counterpart of the "biased and false material" that alleges a Bulgarian connection to the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II.

August 31, 1982

Major General Damm to Comrade Colonel General Wolf, 'Cooperation with the security agencies of the PR Bulgaria on the line “Active Measures”'

Willi Damm conveys a recent message from a Bulgarian counterpart to Markus Wolf.

December 15, 1982

Telegram, Reinert to Gen. Axen, Gen. Sieber, and Gen. Krolikowski

The Bulgarian Communist Party rejects allegations from Italy and other Western powers that Bulgaria was involved in the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II.

February 1, 1983

Telegram, Dimitar Stoyanov to Comrade Mielke

The Bulgarian Minister of the Interior writes to Erich Mielke on NATO efforts to discredit Bulgaria, the Soviet Union, and other communist states following the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II.

June 3, 1983

Information from the Security Services of the BPC: Reference Report on Case Agca

Biographical information about Mehmet Ali Ağca as well as the "groundless accusations" against Bulgaria and other communist bloc states.

June 4, 1983

Major General Damm to Comrade Colonel General Wolf, 'Cooperation with the Security Agencies of the PR Bulgaria'

Willi Damm reports to Markus Wolf that the Bulgarians are requesting assistance for "active measures" against an Italian citizen.

1983

Letter, Lieutenant General W. Kozew to Comrade Markus Wolf

Markus Wolf learns of the latest developments in the criminal case against Sergei Antonov.

March 13, 1984

Telegram, [redacted] to Comrade Damm

Bulgaria claims the CIA is involved in the criminal case against Sergei Antonov.

February 5, 1985

Major General Damm to the Director, Main Department II, 'Research of “STERN” in connection with the Pope assassination'

Willi Damm reports that the Bulgarian security agency is seeking information a Turkish arms dealer from the Stasi about.

September 23, 1985

Telegram, Dimitar Stoyanov to Comrade Mielke

The head of the Bulgaria's Ministry of the Interior informs Erich Mielke of developments in the criminal case against Sergei Antonov.

Document Information

Source

BStU, Berlin. Translated by Samuel Denney.

Rights

The History and Public Policy Program welcomes reuse of Digital Archive materials for research and educational purposes. Some documents may be subject to copyright, which is retained by the rights holders in accordance with US and international copyright laws. When possible, rights holders have been contacted for permission to reproduce their materials.

To enquire about this document's rights status or request permission for commercial use, please contact the History and Public Policy Program at HAPP@wilsoncenter.org.

Original Uploaded Date

2022-11-01

Type

Telegram

Language

Record ID

291293

Donors

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars