This memorandum from KGB Chairman Andropov to the CPSU Politburo follows up on the initial report from Andropov, Shchelokov, and Malyarov. The document highlights the “malevolent views” of the group that held an unauthorized demonstration in Red Square on 25 August 1968, singling out Pavel Litvinov, Larisa Bogoraz, Viktor Fainberg, and Vadim Delaunay for particular opprobrium. Andropov stresses that the KGB will intensify its crackdown on opposition figures who try to “spread defamatory information about Soviet reality.”
September 5, 1968
Yurii Andropov, Nikolai Shchelokov, and Mikhail Malyarov to the CPSU CC
This document was made possible with support from Blavatnik Family Foundation
Secret
To the CPSU CC
Recently, especially in connection with the events in Czechoslovakia, [Pavel] LITVINOV, [Larisa] BOGORAZ-BRUKHMAN, and several of their like-minded accomplices have once again stepped up their malevolent activity.
On 25 August of this year at around noon on Red Square, in accordance with a long-arranged conspiracy, they made an attempt to stage a protest demonstration using banners with inscriptions “Hands off Czechoslovakia!” “For your freedom and ours!” and “Down with the occupiers!” in Russian and “Long live a free and independent Czechoslovakia!” in Czech. With the public’s participation, the malevolent action was promptly suppressed. Among the participants in this provocation on Red Square were LITVINOV, who is unemployed; BOGORAZ-BRUKHMAN, a senior research fellow at the All-Union Scientific-Research Institute of Technical Information, Classification, and Coding of the Committee of Standards; [Viktor] FAINBERG, a tour guide at the Pavlov Palace in Leningrad; [Natal’ya] GORBANEVSKAYA, an engineer at the State Institute for the Design of Theatrical and Entertainment Facilities; [Konstantin] BABITSKII, a junior research fellow at the Institute of Russian Language and Literature of the Soviet Academy of Sciences; Tat’yana] BAEVA, a graduate student at the Historical-Archival Institute; [Inna] KORKHOVA, a research fellow at the Institute for World Economy and International Relations; [Maiya] RUSAKOVSKAYA, an expert at the All-Union Institute for Patent Expertise; and [Vladimir] DREMLYUGA and [Vadim] DELAUNAY, who are unemployed.
Eleven people were detained in connection with the anti-Soviet outburst, five of whom were released after interrogation at the police station. LITVINOV, BOGORAZ-BRUKHMAN, FAINBERG, DREMLYUGA, DELAUNAY, and BABITSKII were arrested and are being held criminally accountable by the Moscow procurator under Article 190-3 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR (organization or active participation in group actions violating public order).
It is proposed that in relation to BOGORAZ-BRUKHMAN and LITVINOV the court sentence them to exile in a remote area of the country.
The Committee of State Security, the Ministry for Preservation of Public Order, and the Procurator of the USSR take additional measures to prevent possible hostile actions on the part of anti-social elements.
[Yurii] ANDROPOV [Nikolai] SHCHELOKOV [Mikhail] MALYAROV
5 September 1968
No. 2102-A
This memorandum, signed by Yurii Andropov, the chairman of the Soviet Committee of State Security (KGB); Nikolai Shchelokov, the Minister of Public Order (whose ministry was renamed the Ministry of Internal Affairs in late November 1968); and Mikhail Molyarov, the Procurator of the USSR, was sent to the ruling Politburo of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) eleven days after the demonstration in Red Square against the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia. The document lays out the basic facts of the case as viewed by the KGB and the CPSU. The document mentions the names of the eight activists who were in Red Square as well as two who helped with planning but were not actually in Red Square, Inna Korkhova and Maiya Rusakovskaya. Natal’ya Gorbanevskaya, one of the eight, was detained but released because she had recently given birth. However, a year later she was arrested in connection with her involvement and sentenced to a harsh term in a psychiatric prison.
Associated Places
Associated Topics
Related Documents
September 20, 1968 | Yu. Andropov to the CPSU CC |
Document Information
Source
RGANI, F. 80, Op. 1, D. 513, Ll. 56-57. Obtained and translated by Mark Kramer.
Original Archive
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
2018-08-24
Language
Record ID
188128
Donors
Blavatnik Family Foundation