UNCLASSIFIED E50

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TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4541
INFO AMCONSUL LENINGRAD

CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 07 MOSCOW 31509

DEPT FOR EUR/SOV/SOBI

DEPT FOR INR/B

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, SCOM, SCUL, SOCI, ECON, UR
SUBJECT: USSR DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS: NOVEMBER 9

1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.

2. THE FOLLOWING NOTES ON CURRENT SOVIET DOMESTIC

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS COVER THE PERIOD ENDING
NOVEMBER 9 AND INCLUDE MATERIAL NOT REPORTED
ELSEWHERE. MUCH OF THE INFORMATION IS SPECULATIVE
AND SHOULD BE TREATED WITH CAUTION.

LEADERSHIP
/---------
3. LEADERSHIP LINE-UPS. AS WAS THE CASE LAST YEAR,
MOSCOW NEWSPAPERS NOVEMBER 7 AND 8 CARRIED DIFFERENT
SHOTS OF THE LEADERSHIP LINE-UP DURING THE
REVOLUTION-DAY CELEBRATIONS IN MOSCOW. BOTH
"PRAVDA," "IZVESTIYA," AND "KOMSOMOL'SKAYA PRAVDA"
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PAGE 02 MOSCOW 31509 01 OF 07 092111Z

CARRIED ONLY PICTURES OF GORBACHEV AND RYZHKOV ON THE

LENIN MAUSOLEUM, UNDERSCORING THEIR POSITIONS AS THE
TWO TOP SOVIET LEADERS. "SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA" AND
"MOSKOVSKAYA PRAVDA" CARRIED OBLIQUE SHOTS STARTING

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE

REVIEW AUTHORITY: MARTIN MCLEAN
DATE/CASE ID: 18 SEP 2009 200802200 UNCLASSIFIED
 ,
WITH CANDIDATE POLITBURO MEMBER PRlMAKOV AND ENDING
WITH THE MILITARY, THUS ELIMINATING ALL CENTRAL
UNCLASSIFIED
COMMITTEE SECRETARIES WHO ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE
POLITBURO. "VECHERNYAYA MOSKVA" AND
"SOTSIALISTICHESKAYA INDUSTRIYA" CARRIED THE LINE-UP
IN FULL.

4. POLITBURO NOTES. IN THE SPIRIT OF GLASNOST' ,

"PRAVDA" HAS BEGUN TO PUBLISH MORE DETAILED ACCOUNTS
OF POLITBURO MEETINGS THAN THE EARLIER BRIEF
SUMMARIES. ON NOVEMBER 7 AND 8, "PRAVDA" CARRIED
DETAILS OF THE COMMENTS AT THE POLlTURO SESSION
NOVEMBER 3:

--BY V.V. NIKITIN, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND CHAIRMAN

OF STATE COMMISSION ON FOOD AND PROCUREMENT, AND
CENTRAL COMMITTEE SECRETARY YE.S. STOYEV ON THE GRAIN
SITUATION, AND

--BY V.A. KOPTYUG, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SIBERIAN

DIVISION OF THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, AND BY G.I.
MARCHUK, THE PRESIDENT OF THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, ON
THE SIBERIAN DIVISION.

5. MARCHUK PROVIDED A POSITIVE ASSESSMENT OF

POLITBURO MEETINGS, NOTING THAT THEY NOW LAST HOURS
AND NOT THE TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES OF THE
PRE-PERESTROYKA ERA AND THAT THEY ARE CHARACTERIZED
BY CONTROVERSY AND POLEMICS. HE CALLED THE POLITBURO
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PAGE 03 MOSCOW 31509 01 OF 07 092111Z

"A KIND OF INTELLECTUAL STAFF OF PERESTROYKA."

6. CENTRAL COMMITTEE COMMISSIONS. BOTH THE

INTERNATIONAL AND LEGAL POLICY COMMISSION MET DURING
THE PAST WEEK.

--CANDIDATE POLITBURO MEMBER PUGO CHAIRED THE LEGAL

POLICY COMMISSION, APPARENTLY REPLACING THE RECENTLY
RETIRED CHEBRIKOV IN THAT POSITION, ALTHOUGH
PRESUMABLY A CENTRAL COMMITTEE PLENUM STILL HAS TO
APPROVE PUGO'S APPOINTMENT. THE COMMISSION APPROVED
A DRAFT "CONCEPTION OF AN ALL-UNION PROGRAM FOR THE
STRUGGLE AGAINST CRIME." NO DETAILS WERE PROVIDED.

--INTER ALIA, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION, CHAIRED

UNCLASSIFIED
BY POLITBURO MEMBER YAKOVLEV, PLACED ON ITS AGENDA
THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONTACTS BETWEEN THE CPSU AND UNCLASSIFIED
SOCIAL-DEMOCRATIC AND OTHER LEFTIST PARTIES.

7. IS GORBACHEV A ROOSEVELT? "IZVESTIYA" (NOVEMBER

6) CARRIED AN ARTICLE BY AN AMERICAN NEWSPAPERMAN
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN A SMALL AMERICAN NEWSPAPER,
THE "KENT COUNTY DAILY TIMES," COMPARING GORBACHEV
WITH FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT. CITING YEL'TSIN'S CRITICISM
OF GORBACHEV WHILE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE AUTHOR
GOES ON TO NOTE THAT CONSERVATIVES IN THE UNITED
STATES HAD SIMILARLY PREDICTED THAT ROOSEVELT'S
REFORMS WOULD UTTERLY FAIL. ROOSEVELT, HOWEVER,
SUCCESSFULLY LED THE COUNTRY OUT OF DIRE
SOCIO-ECONOMIC STRAITS, THE AUTHOR CONTINUES AND
SUGGESTS GORBACHEV WILL BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME FOR
THE SOVIET UNION.

8. NEW OBKOM FIRST SECRETARY. A NEW FIRST SECRETARY

WAS NAMED DURING A RECENT PARTY PLENUM IN NOVOSIBIRSK

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 UNCLASSIFIED

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ACTION EUR-OO

INFO LOG-OO ADS-OO INR-07 SS-OO ClAE-OO EB-OO DODE-OO

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FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4542
INFO AMCONSUL LENINGRAD

CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 07 MOSCOW 31509

DEPT FOR EUR/SOV/SOBI

DEPT FOR INR/B

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, SCOM, SCUL, SOCI, ECON, UR
SUBJECT: USSR DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS: NOVEMBER 9

OBLAST' , ACCORDING TO "SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA" (OCTOBER

31). FORMER SECOND SECRETARY OF THE NOVOSIBIRSK CITY

UNCLASSIFIED
PARTY COMMITTEE V.P. MUKHA HAS CHOSEN TO REPLACE V.V.
KAZAREZOV, WHO RETIRED. UNCLASSIFIED
SUPREME SOVIET
j-------------
9 . ON NOVEMBER 3, PEOPLE'S DEPUTY ALEKSANDR
VLADISLAVLEV, THE HEAD OF THE UNION OF SCIENTIFIC AND
ENGINEERING SOCIETIES, TOLD EMBOFFS MOST DEPUTIES NOW
BELIEVE IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CURRENT SESSION
OF THE SUPREME SOVIET TO COMPLETE ALL BUSINESS ON THE
AGENDA BY NOVEMBER 24 -- THE SCHEDULED DATE FOR THIS
SESSION'S CLOSURE. HE BELIEVES THE SESSION WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH DECEMBER AND THE OPENING OF THE
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PAGE 02 MOSCOW 31509 02 OF 07 092112Z

CONGRESS OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES WILL BE DELAYED AT

LEAST UNTIL LATE JANUARY. HE SAID FOR THIS REASON
THE SUPREME SOVIET PRESIDIUM HAS STILL NOT ANNOUNCED
THE OPENING DATE FOR THE CONGRESS OF PEOPLE'S
DEPUTIES, ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO OPEN ON OR ABOUT
DECEMBER 12.

10. DURING THE SUPREME SOVIET SESSION THIS SUMMER, A

NUMBER OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES TOLD EMBOFFS THE SESSION
WOULD BE EXTENDED BEYOND THE ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED
DATE FOR CLOSURE, AUGUST 4, BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY
AGENDA. SOME DEPUTIES REPORTEDLY CANCELLED THEIR
AUGUST VACATION PLANS. NEVERTHELESS, GORBACHEV
CLOSED THE SESSION ON AUGUST 4, AS SCHEDULED. THUS,
DESPITE VLADISLAVLEV'S CONCERNS, WE WOULD NOT BE
SURPRISED IF GORBACHEV CLOSED THE FALL SESSION
NOVEMBER 24, AS SCHEDULED.

11. VLADISLAVLEV ALSO TOLD EMBOFFS ABOUT DIFFERENT

INTEREST GROUPS THAT ARE BEGINNING TO FORM AMONG
DEPUTIES. HE SPOKE OF ONE IN THE FIELD OF SCIENCE
AND ENGINEERING THAT MET FOR THE FIRST TIME ON
NOVEMBER 2 AND INCLUDED SOME 350 PEOPLE. HE SAID
OTHERS HAVE FORMED ALONG PROFESSIONAL LINES,
PARTICULARLY AMONG ACADEMIC GROUPS. HE SPECULATED
THAT THESE INTEREST GROUPS WILL FORM THE BASIS FOR
POLITICAL DIVISION IN FUTURE SUPREME SOVIET SESSIONS.

DOMESTIC AFFAIRS
j---------------

UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED
12. PLAYING TO THE WORKERS. SINCE GORBACHEV'S
RETURN FROM VACATION IN SEPTEMBER, THE SOVIET
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PAGE 03 MOSCOW 31509 02 OF 07 092112Z

LEADERSHIP HAS APPARENTLY LAUNCHED A CONCERTED EFFORT

TO DEMONSTRATE ITS CONCERN FOR THE COMMON WORKER.
ADDRESSEES WILL REMEMBER THAT GORBACHEV HELD A
MEETING SEPTEMBER 21 WITH WORKERS AND COLLECTIVE
FARMERS WHO WERE CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SEPTEMBER PLENUM, AND THAT HE
UNDERSCORED THE PARTY'S ALLEGIANCE TO THE IDEALS OF
THE REVOLUTION AND WORKERS IN REMARKS AT THE
UKRAINIAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE PLENUM SEPTEMBER 28.
FREQUENT PUBLIC COMMENT BY THE LEADERSHIP ON THE
GROWING CRIME PROBLEM ALSO APPEARS DIRECTED TO SOME
EXTENT AT PLAYING TO THE GENERALLY CONSERVATIVE
WORKERS' DESIRE FOR LAW AND ORDER.

13. DEMONSTRATIONS OF CONCERN FOR WORKERS WERE

PROMINENT IN THIS YEAR'S REVOLUTION-DAY CELEBRATIONS.

- - IN THE WEEK BEFORE NOVEMBER 7, TEN MEMBERS OF THE

LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING ALL FOUR NEW CENTRAL COMMITTEE
SECRETARIES (GIRENKO, MANAYENKOV, STROYEV, AND
USMANOV) , VISITED WORK COLLECTIVES IN MOSCOW. PRESS
ACCOUNTS STRESSED THE INFORMALITY OF THE MEETINGS AND
THE LEADERS' EFFORTS TO SOLICIT WORKERS' VIEWS.
--THE FIRST TWO TV INTERVIEWS ON RED SQUARE DURING
THE NOVEMBER 7 PARADE FEATURED WORKERS. ONE STRESSED
THE PARTY AS THE POLITICAL VANGUARD IN SOVIET
SOCIETY; THE OTHER, PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE WORK OF
THE SUPREME SOVIET.

14. EXACTLY WHAT SPARKED THIS GROWING SHOW OF

CONCERN FOR WORKERS IS NOT CLEAR AT THIS POINT. IN
ANY EVENT, FACED BY YEL'TSIN'S BRAND OF POPULISM AND
THE CONSERVATIVES' EFFORTS TO RALLY WORKERS' SUPPORT

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UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED

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ACTION EUR-OO

INFO LOG-OO ADS-OO INR-07 SS-OO CIAE-OO EB-OO DODE-OO

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FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4543
INFO AMCONSUL LENINGRAD

CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 07 MOSCOW 31509

DEPT FOR EUR/SOV/SOBI

DEPT FOR INR/B

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, SCOM, SCUL, SOCI, ECON, UR
SUBJECT: USSR DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS: NOVEMBER 9

(THROUGH SUCH ORGANIZATIONS AS THE "UNITED WORKERS'

FRONTS), THE LEADERSHIP HAS APPARENTLY DECIDED THAT
IT HAS TO COMPETE MORE ACTIVELY AND EFFECTIVELY FOR
WORKER SUPPORT.

15. POPULISM. "IZVESTIYA" (OCTOBER 31) CARRIED AN

ANALYSIS OF POPULISM IN THE SOVIET UNION BY YURIY
LEVAnA, THE NOTED SOVIET POLLSTER. POINTING TO THIS
SUMMER'S MINERS' STRIKES, LEVADA NOTES THAT THE
AWAKENING OF THE UNORGANIZED MASSES IS ONE OF THE
MOST NOTABLE PHENOMENA OF THE PAST YEAR. THE MASSES,
HE CONTINUES, CANNOT YET BE COUNTED AS "RESERVES OF
PERESTROKA." CONSERVATIVE POPULISTS, HE WARNS, ARE
NOW TRYING TO GIVE THEIR VIEWS A CERTAIN "PROLETARIAN
SHADING" AND COULD PROVE QUITE SUCCESSFUL GIVEN
CURRENT ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES. IN HIS OPINION,
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PAGE 02 MOSCOW 31509 03 OF 07 092113Z

HOWEVER, CONSERVATIVE FORCES ARE INCAPABLE OF

REGAINING ALL THE POWER THEY HAVE LOST; RATHER, THEIR
GOAL IS TO UNDERMINE THE LOOSE COALITION OF
PROGRESSIVE FORCES IN AN EFFORT TO RETARD OR TURN
BACK REFORM.

16. IN A CONVERSATION WITH EMBOFF EARLIER THIS FALL,

LEVADA ARGUED THAT:

--THE AWAKENING OF THE MASSES - PARTICULARLY THE

MINERS' STRIKES - HAD TAKEN THE SOVIET LEADERSHIP BY
COMPLETE SURPRISE;

--THE LEADERSHIP WAS AT A LOSS AS TO HOW TO DEAL WITH

THIS AWAKENING; AND

--MANAGING THE POLITICIZED MASSES WAS NOW THE MOST

SEVERE CHALLENGE FACING GORBACHEV.

17. PUBLIC OPINION POLL. "OGONEK" (NO. 44)

CONTINUED TO PUBLISH RESULTS OF OPINION POLLS
CONDUCTED BY THE ZASLAVSKAYA INSTITUTE. THIS WEEK'S
DATA SUGGEST SOVIETS HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE THAT
PERESTROYKA WILL SUCCEED. A SAMPLE OF QUESTIONS AND
RESPONSES FOLLOWS.

IN YOUR OPINION HOW WILL THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IN

THE COUNTRY CHANGE IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

--WILL GET BETTER 23.7 PERCENT

--WILL GET WORSE 10.0
--WILL REMAIN THE SAME 28.1
--WILL GET BETTER, THEN WORSE 3.2
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PAGE 03 MOSCOW 31509 03 OF 07 092113Z

--WILL GET WORSE, THEN BETTER 35.0

HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION

IN YOUR TOWN, VILLAGE, AND IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS?

--VERY CONCERNED 51.4 PERCENT

UNCLASSIFIED
--RATHER CONCERNED 32.1UNCLASSIFIED
--NOT VERY CONCERNED 6.7
--NOT CONCERNED 4.9
--HARD TO SAY 4.9

DO YOU AGREE WITH THE VIEW THAT PERESTROYKA AND

GLASNOST' WILL BE UNDERMINED BY THE BUREAUCRATIC
APPARATUS?

--AGREE 16. 0 PERCENT

--DISAGREE 45.3
--HARD TO SAY 38.7

18. GLASNOST' AND THE KGB. IN ADDITION TO KGB

CHAIRMAN KRYUCHKOV DELIVERING THE ANNUAL REVOLUTION
DAY ADDRESS, THE KGB HAS TAKEN A NUMBER OF STEPS
RECENTLY TO BOOST ITS PUBLIC IMAGE:

--KGB SPOKESMEN APPEARED ON NATIONAL TELEVISION ON

NOVEMBER 2. DURING THE HOUR-LONG PROGRAM, THE
SPOKESMEN DISCUSSED THE ROLE OF THE KGB AND ANSWERED
QUESTIONS FROM CALLERS.

--PROCEEDINGS OF THE NOVEMBER 1 KGB COLLEGIUM MEETING

WERE WIDELY PUBLISHED IN THE SOVIET MEDIA.
--A GROUP OF 17 KGB OFFICIALS FROM MOSCOW TRAVELLED
TO SOUTH SAKHALINSK IN LATE OCTOBER TO HOLD A SERIES
OF "MEET-THE-PUBLIC" GATHERINGS, ACCORDING TO

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ACTION EUR-OO

INFO LOG-OO ADS-OO INR-07 SS-OO CIAE-OO EB-OO DODE-OO

UNCLASSIFIED
 H-01 NSCE-OO NSAE-OO HAl:Jl19JCLA"SlSIFIE~-04 TRSE-OO
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FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4544
INFO AMCONSUL LENINGRAD

CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 07 MOSCOW 31509

DEPT FOR EUR/SOV/SOBI

DEPT FOR INR/B

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PHOM, PINR, SCOM, SCUL, SOCI, ECON, UR
SUBJECT: USSR DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS: NOVEMBER 9

"PRAVDA."

--KGB OFFICIALS FROM TOMSK OBLAST' WORKED WITH THE

MEMORIAL SOCIETY TO REVIEW OVER 3,500 CASES OF
VICTIMS REPRESSED DURING THE STALIN ERA, ACCORDING TO
"IZVESTIYA." THE LIST OF THOSE REHABILITATED WILL BE
PUBLISHED IN THE LOCAL PRESS.

--THE KGB PRESS SERVICE RELEASED A PUBLIC STATEMENT

FOLLOWING THE OCTOBER 30 DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF
KGB HEADQUARTERS BY THE MEMORIAL SOCIETY. (NOTE--
AS WIDELY REPORTED IN THE WESTERN PRESS, THE ORDERLY
DEMONSTRATION WAS MARRED WHEN RIOT POLICE BRUTALLY
BROKE UP A FOLLOW-ON DEMONSTRATION BY THE DEMOCRATIC
UNION IN NEARBY PUSHKIN SQUARE). THE KGB PRESS
SERVICE STATED THAT THE "PRESENT GENERATION" OF
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PAGE 02 MOSCOW 31509 04 OF 07 092114Z

SECURITY OFFICERS DISSOCIATES ITSELF FROM THE

STALINIST NKVD AND CONDEMNS THE ARBITRARINESS OF THAT
PERIOD.

19. INFORMAL GROUPS MEET. DELEGATES FROM ALMOST 100

PROGRESSIVE INFORMAL GROUPS MET IN CHELYABINSK
OCTOBER 28-29 TO FORM THE "INTERREGIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATIONS." THE CONFERENCE WAS
INSTIGATED BY THE LENINGRAD PEOPLE'S FRONT, ACCORDING
TO AN ACTIVI ST WHO HAS PRESENT. DELEGATES ADOPTED A

UNCLASSIFIED
 , '
PLATFORM GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE INTERREGIONAL
PARLIAMENTARY GROUP. THE MEETING WAS DEVOTED MAINLY
UNCLASSIFIED
TO RESOLUTIONS AND DID NOT DEVELOP A PLAN OF ACTION
FOR THE SPRING ELECTIONS. A FRUSTRATED MUSCOVITE
ACTIVIST SAID MOST DELEGATES WERE "FROM THE
PROVINCES" AND HAD LITTLE POLITICAL EXPERIENCE. HE
JOINED WITH MOST OF THE OTHER MOSCOW DELEGATES
(MAINLY FROM THE MOSCOW VOTERS ASSOCIATION, MOSCOW
PEOPLE'S FRONT, AND MEMORIAL) TO FORM A SPLINTER
GROUP DEVOTED TO JOINT PREPARATION FOR THE SPRING
ELECTORAL CAMPAIGNS.

20. "SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA" (NOVEMBER 2) CRITICIZED THE

CHELYABINSK MEETING. MOST OF THE PARTICIPATING
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE TINY MEMBERSHIPS, THE PAPER SAID,
AND EACH HAS A DIFFERENT POLITICAL PROGRAM.
MOREOVER, PEOPLE CALLING THEMSELVES DEMOCRATIC OFTEN
RESORT TO UNDEMOCRATIC METHODS.

21. THEATER AND POLITICS. A STUDIO THEATER IN

MOSCOW RECENTLY OPENED THE PRODUCTION OF GERMAN
PLAYWRIGHT EDEN VON HORVATH'S "FAITH, LOVE, HOPE."
IT IS THE STORY OF A WOMAN'S STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL
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AGAINST AN INSENSITIVE STATE BUREAUCRACY. IN THE

END, THE STARVING WOMAN FAILS IN A SUICIDE ATTEMPT
BUT DIES WHEN FED A PIECE OF BREAD HER STARVING BODY
CANNOT DIGEST. ACCORDING TO THE THEATER'S MANAGER,
SOVIETS WHO HAVE SEEN THE PLAY HAVE INTERPRETED IT AS
A PARABLE ABOUT PERESTROYKA.

22. HEARD ON THE STREET. ON A DAY OF ESPECIALLY

HEAVY TRAFFIC IN MOSCOW, A RUSSIAN TAXI DRIVER GAVE
EMBOFF AN EARFUL AGAINST ARMENIANS, PERESTROYKA, AND
MOST OF THE CURRENT POLITBURO. POINTING TO THE
EMBASSY'S CROWD OF VISA APPLICANTS, HE SAID "THERE'S
KARABAKH . " ALL APPLICANTS WERE SPECULATORS, HE SAID,
AND THE U.S. SHOULD NOT ACCEPT ANY OF THEM. ON
PERESTROYKA: "THINGS WERE BETTER UNDER BREZHNEV,"
AND BETTER STILL 'UNDER STALIN AFTER THE WAR, "WHEN WE
HAD REAL DISCIPLINE." ON LEADERSHIP: GORBACHEV
NEEDS TO GET TOUGHER, AND HE SHOULD START BY PURGING
THE POLITBURO OF LIGACHEV, MEDVEDEV, YAKOVLEV, AND
ZAYKOV. THE ANSWER DOESN'T LIE WITH YEL'TSIN,
HOWEVER: "I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S UP TO." NOR WILL

UNCLASSIFIED
 , '
NEXT SPRINC;;'S ELECTIONS HELP: liTHE ELECTIONS ARE A
WASTE OF TIME. ALL THAT MATTERS IS WHO IS THE MAIN UNCLASSIFIED
LEADER. THE OTHERS DON'T COUNT."

REPUBLICS
/--------
23. UZBEKISTAN. MIRAKHMAT MIRKASYMOV BECAME
UZBEKISTAN'S NEW PRIME MINISTER AFTER GAYRAT KADYROV
WAS REMOVED AT THE OCTOBER 21 SESSION OF THE REPUBLIC
SUPREME SOVIET. MIRKASYMOV HAS HELD SENIOR POSTS IN
THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF UZBEKISTAN FOR THE PAST
SIXTEEN YEARS, MOST RECENTLY SERVING AS FIRST

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PM-10 PA-01 OMB-01 SIL-01 INRE-OO USIE-OO SP-02
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FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4545
INFO AMCONSUL LENINGRAD

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DEPT FOR EUR/SOV/SOBI

DEPT FOR INR/B

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

UNCLASSIFIED
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, SCOM, SCUL, SOCI, ECON, UR UNCLASSIFIED
SUB.JECT: USSR DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS: NOVEMBER 9

SECRETARY OF THE TASHKENT OBLAST PARTY COMMITTEE.

THE NEW TASHKENT OBKOM FIRST SECRETARY IS SALIDZHAN
MAMARASULOV, WHO MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS FIRST
SECRETARY OF THE SURKHANDAR' YA OBKOM.

24. UZBEKISTAN. IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS

IN THE KARAKALPAK AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC, THE UZBEKISTAN
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ADOPTED A RESOLUTION TO
ESTABLISH A PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
KARAKALPAK COUNCIL OF MINISTERS IN THE COUNCIL OF
MINISTERS OF UZBEKISTAN ("PRAVDA VOSTOKA," OCTOBER
29) .

25. SOVIET TURKS. ON OCTOBER 25, SOVIET FOREIGN

MINISTRY SPOKESMAN YURIY GREMITSKIKH DENIED
ALLEGATIONS ABOUT THE KILLING OF YOUNG SOVIET TURKS
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PAGE 02 MOSCOW 31509 05 OF 07 092115Z

SERVING IN THE SOVIET ARMY. HE SAID, "AMONG

CONSCRIPT SOLDIERS WHO DIED SINCE JANUARY OF THIS
YEAR, THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE CITIZEN OF TURKISH
NATIONALITY." THIS CONTRADICTS INFORMATION EMBOFF
RECEIVED WHILE IN TASHKENT OCTOBER 14-16, WHERE A
SPECIAL REPUBLIC SUPREME SOVIET COMMISSION HAS BEEN
SET UP TO INVESTIGATE SEVERAL DEATHS OF UZBEK
CONSCRIPTS.

26. GEORGIA. ON OCTOBER 29, NINE INFORMAL GROUPS

JOINED FORCES AND CREATED THE MAIN COMMITTEE OF
NATIONAL SALVATION OF GEORGIA. THESE GROUPS DO NOT
RECOGNIZE SOVIET AUTHORITY AND THEIR MAIN GOALS ARE
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FULL INDEPENDENCE AND A
MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SYSTEM IN GEORGIA.
THE MEMBERSHIP OF EACH OF THESE GROUPS NUMBERS A FEW
HUNDRED. THE NINE GROUPS (WITH NUMBER OF SUPPORTERS
IN PARENTHESES) ARE:

--THE PARTY FOR THE NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE OF GEORGIA

(2000)
--THE SOCIETY OF IL'YA THE RIGHTEOUS (4000)
--THE HELSINKI UNION OF GEORGIA (100)
--THE NATIONAL-DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF GEORGIA (2000)
--THE NATIONAL RIGHTS PARTY (250)

UNCLASSIFIED
--THE MONARCHIST PARTY (100) UNCLASSIFIED
--THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF GEORGIA (200)
--THE CHRISTIAN-DEMOCRATIC ASSOCIATION (NO
INFORMATION)
--THE UNION OF NATIONAL DIGNITY OF GEORGIA (100)

27. SOUTH OSSETIAN AUTONOMOUS OBLAST. STRIKES,

DEMONSTRATIONS, AND GATHERINGS TO DEMAND THE STATUS
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OF AN AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC AND THE ELEVATION OF

OSSETIAN TO THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE OBLAST HAVE
CONTINUED SINCE LATE OCTOBER. THE PEOPLE'S FRONT OF
SOUTHERN OSSETIA, "ADAMON NYKHAS," HAS CALLED FOR THE
REMOVAL OF THE OBLAST LEADERSHIP. THE MINISTRY OF
INTERNAL AFFAIRS (MVD) SENT IN ADDITIONAL TROOPS TO
ASSIST THE REPUBLIC MVD.

28. NUMBER INTERNAL TROOPS IN THE CAUCASUS.

ACCORDING TO FREYM SHATALINYM, SPOKESMAN FOR THE
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, THE BREAKDOWN OF MVD
TROOPS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN ORDER IN THE CAUCASUS IS:

--ARMENIA, 1800
--AZERBAYDZHAN, 3,600
--GEORGIA, 4,500
--NAGORNO-KARABAKH, 5,500.

29. LITHUANIA. THE SUPREME SOVIET OF LITHUANIA MET

NOVEMBER 3 - 4 AND:

--PASSED A LAW ON REFERENDUMS. ANY CITIZEN OVER 18

CAN TAKE PART. REFERENDUMS MAY BE CALLED BY AT LEAST
HALF THE REPUBLIC SUPREME SOVIET DEPUTIES OR NOT LESS
THAN 300,000 LITHUANIAN CITIZENS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO
VOTE.

--CHANGED THE 50TH ARTICLE OF THE CONSTITUTION TO

ENSURE "FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND CONSCIENCE AND THE
RIGHT TO EXPRESS AND SPREAD CONVICTIONS AND VIEWS BY
PEACEFUL MEANS" (TASS NOVEMBER 4) .

--PASSED A LAW ON CITIZENSHIP WHICH ALLOWS ANYONE WHO

LIVES IN LITHUANIA, HAS A PERMANENT JOB, AND A

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CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 06 OF 07 MOSCOW 31509

DEPT FOR EUR/SOV/SOBI

DEPT FOR INR/B

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, SCOM,SCUL, SOCI, ECON, UR
SUBJECT: USSR DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS: NOVEMBER 9

PERMANENT AND LEGAL SOURCE OF INCOME WHEN THE LAW

ENTERED INTO FORCE TO BE A CITIZEN.

--SUSPENDED ALL-UNION RESOLUTIONS ON GRANTING HOUSING

PRIVILEGES TO SOME CATEGORIES OF THE POPULATION ON
LITHUANIA'S TERRITORY (TASS NOVEMBER 4). THIS ALLOWS
THE REPUBLIC TO GRANT HOUSING TO LITHUANIAN CITIZENS
FIRST BEFORE NON-CITIZENS.

30. LATVIA. THE BUREAU OF THE LATVIAN COMMUNIST

PARTY'S RIGA CITY COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED NOVEMBER 3 THAT
THE LATVIAN POPULR FRONT'S ATTEMPTS TO BOYCOTT THE

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CELEBRATIONS OF THE 72ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE
REVOLUTION COULD LEAD TO FURTHER DESTABILIZATION IN UNCLASSIFIED
THE REPUBLIC.

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31. MOLDAVIA. MOLDAVIAN NATIONAL ACTIVISTS

DISRUPTED THE REVOLUTION-DAY CELEBRATIONS IN
KISHINEV, ACCORDING TO A WESTERN CORRESPONDENT.
ACTIVISTS REPORTEDLY OCCUPIED THE SQUARE IN FRONT OF
THE REPUBLIC LEADERSHIP'S REVIEWING STAND BEFORE THE
TRADITIONAL PARADE COULD BEGIN AND DID NOT LEAVE
UNTIL THE LEADERSHIP HAD ABANDONED THE SQUARE. THE
SOVIET MEDIA, HOWEVER, HAS NOT YET GIVEN ANY
INDICATION THAT THE CELEBRATIONS WERE DISRUPTED.

32. GEORGIA. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL GEORGIAN SOURCES,

CROWDS IN TBILISI PREVENTED THE OFFICIAL CELEBRATION
OF REVOLUTION DAY. THESE SOURCES ESTIMATED THAT
30,000 PEOPLE GATHERED AT THREE LOCATIONS TO DISRUPT
THE CELEBRATIONS: THE PHI LHARMONIA, PROSPEKT
RUSTAVELI, AND THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE PEOPLE'S
FRONT. (COMMENT: CROWD ESTIMATES ARE OFTEN
INFLATED. END COMMENT.) TROOPS SURROUNDED LENIN'S
PORTRAIT IN THE MAIN SQUARE AND THEY ALSO SURROUNDED
THE COUNCIL OF MINISTER'S BUILDING, BUT NO VIOLENT
INCIDENTS OCCURRED.

33. AN INFORMAL GROUP OF RUSSIANS WAS FORMED UNDER

THE NAME "SOVIET INTERFRONT OF GEORGIA" IN TBILISI
NOVEMBER 7. IN A PRINTED ANNOUNCEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON
THE STREETS OF TBILISI, THE GROUP CLAIMED THAT
REPUBLIC FIRST SECRETARY GUMBARIDZE WAS IN LEAGUE
WITH GEORGIAN INFORMAL GROUPS TO DENY THE RIGHTS OF
NON-GEORGIANS. THE GROUP DEMANDED THAT A REPUBLIC
HOUSE OF NATIONALITIES BE CREATED AND THAT RUSSIAN BE
DECLARED THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE REPUBLIC, ALONG
WITH GEORGIAN. THEY ALSO CLAIMED THAT DEMOCRACY DOES
NOT EXIST IN GEORGIA.
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HUMAN RIGHTS

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j----------- UNCLASSIFIED
34. DRAFT LAWS. A SOVIET OFFICIAL'S SURPRISINGLY
FRANK CRITICISM OF HUMAN RIGHTS LEGISLATION EFFORTS
WAS PUBLISHED IN "MOSCOW NEWS" NO. 45 (NOVEMBER 5).
YURIY KASHLEV, WHO HEADED THE SOVIET DELEGATION AT
THE VIENNA CSCE MEETING AND IS NOW SPECIAL ASSISTANT
TO THE FIRST DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
EXPRESSED DISPLEASURE WITH THE SLOW PACE OF SEVERAL
DRAFT LAWS:

--RELIGION. "SOMETHING MYSTERIOUS IS HAPPENING TO

THE DRAFT; IT ROAMS BACK AND FORTH FROM THE COUNCIL
OF MINISTERS TO THE COUNCIL FOR RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS.
THE IMPRESSION IS THAT SOMEONE IS NOT INTERESTED IN
ITS EARLY ADOPTION."

--PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS. "I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MYSELF

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THAT DRAFT. THE PEOPLE'S
DEPUTIES ASKED AT THE SESSION: WHAT IS HAPPENING TO
THIS DRAFT; WHERE IS IT?"

--GLASNOST'. "IN A SIMILARLY INCOMPREHENSIBLE WAY

ALL REFERENCES TO THE LAW ON GLASNOST' VANISHED,
ALTHOUGH FORMERLY THERE HAS MUCH TALK ABOUT IT."

--PRESS. KASHLEV CRITICIZED THE ORIGINAL DRAFT FOR

NOT REMOVING RESTRICTIONS ON THE RIGHT TO FREELY
REPRODUCE INFORMATION, AND FOR NOT ADDRESSING
INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION EXCHANGE OR DEFINING
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.

--EMIGRATION. KASHLEV SAID THE DRAFT LAW COMPLIES

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------------------130752 112257Z /72
R 091835Z NOV 89
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4547
INFO AMCONSUL LENINGRAD

CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 07 OF 07 MOSCOW 31509

DEPT FOR EUR/SOV/SOBI

DEPT FOR INR/B

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, SCOM, SCUL, SOCI, ECON, UR
SUBJECT: USSR DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS: NOVEMBER 9

WITH WORLD STANDARDS, AND THAT CONCERNS OF BRAIN

DRAIN CANNOT BE ANSWERED BY AN ADMINISTRATIVE BAN ON
EMIGRATION. REMAINING REFUSENIK CASES ARE THE RESULT
OF OFFICIAL LAWLESSNESS, HE SAID, AND THE NEW
LEGISLATION MUST PUT AN END TO IT.

35. ONLY THE LAW ON THE PRESS HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A

PRIORITY ISSUE FOR THE CURRENT SUPREME SOVIET
SESSION, ACCORDING TO KASHLEV. THE SUPREME SOVIET
COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS HAS APPEALED TO
BOTH THE SUPREME SOVIET AND THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
TO SPEED UP THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW HUMAN RIGHTS
LEGISLATION. KASHLEV SAID THE LAWS MUST BE ADOPTED
SOON -- IF NOT BEFORE THE COPENHAGEN HUMAN RIGHTS
CONFERENCE NEXT JUNE, THEN WITHOUT FAIL BEFORE THE
MOSCOW CONFERENCE IN 1991.
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36. LENINGRAD MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. MATLOCK

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