Classified
Central Committee of the USSR
Dec. 7 '76 - 55396
Subject to return to the general
precinct of the Central Committee of
the Communist Party of the Soviet
Union
Committee of State Security (KGB)
of the Council of Ministers of the USSR
December 6, 1976
No. 2755-A
Moscow
On the provocative demonstration by antisocial elements on Pushkin Square in Moscow and at the Pushkin monument in Leningrad
On December 5 of this year a group of antisocial elements convened on Pushkin Square with the provocative aim of expressing "silent protest" in connection with "violations" of the rights of citizens guaranteed by the constitution of the USSR.
Sakharov, Semenova and Yankelevich (the daughter and son-in-law of Elena Bonner, Andrei Sakharov's wife), Grigorenko's spouse, Bukovskaya, Alexeeva, Salova, Shatunovskaya, Gastev, Genkin, Starchik, Landa, Irina Yakir and others, a total of around 50 people gathered in the square at the Pushkin monument. At 18:00 some of them removed their hats and attempted to observe a so-called "minute of silence."
The following foreign correspondents were also present: Ren, Villis, Krimsky, Kent, Wallace (USA): Ketlin, Evans, Blyuett (Great Britain): Prede, Yurgen, Engel-Brecht, Brandt (West Germany) and Bolenbloch (France), who photographed the demonstration's participants.
The Moscow residents and guests of the capital who were present on the square expressed their displeasure at the gathering of the antisocial elements.
The same day in Leningrad a group of 10 hostile individuals carried out a similar action at the Pushkin monument on the Square of the Arts.
In both instances no further disturbances had been planned.
Additional information to follow.
Chairman of the Committee of State Security (KGB)
[Signature]
Andropov
The Committee for State Security reported on anti-socialist actions around Pushkin Square that occurred December 5, 1976. A group gathered around Pushkin Square to participate in a "silent protest" in order to bring attention to violations of constitutional rights and were photographed by several foreign correspondents.
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Classified