Skip to content

August 26, 1982

Telegram, Mitew to Comrade Damm

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

Telegram

(Delete Where Inapplicable)

Arrival

Exit

Sender: Sofia – Mitew

Recipient: Berlin – Damm

Sofia, August 26, 1982

Dear Comrade Damm!

It is requested that the following be transmitted to Col. WAGENBRETH, head of Department AM of HVA of the MfS:

Recently, biased and false material have appeared in the mass media of some capitalist countries that the attempted murder of Pope John Paul II in 1981 was the work of agencies of the KGB and the Bulgarian security agencies, which granted the terrorist Mehmed Ali direct support by supplying him with weapons and money. Clearly, this is a campaign directed by the security services of the enemy in pursuit of the goal of discrediting Bulgaria by foisting connections to terrorist organizations upon it.

In light of the situation that has arisen, it is requested that the preparation of documents regarding the joint Operation “Pope” be sped up.

Our number: 972/82                                                               

With socialist greetings,

Mitew

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.

Author(s):

Associated People & Organizations

Associated Places

Subjects Discussed

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 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 4, 1982

Telegram, [redacted] to Comrade Mielke

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.

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.

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

2022-11-01

Type

Telegram

Language

Record ID

291291

Donors

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars