VISA WAS SPY'S UNDOING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000400290003-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 3, 1999
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: January 4, 1967
• Content Type: NSPR

~?AN 41S&7
Approved' For Release 1999/09117: CIA-RDP75=00
r' P1 1 A 1-,?f L
Vladimir Komarek, 42, was
he spy v no came in from the
cold - and then went back.
The former spy for French
Intelligence, who had been
"retired'' from spying for 11
years, openly told his enemies
he had travel plans, and they
nabbed him.
Mr. Komarek" - also known
as Kazan - is the naturalized
,4 crican citizen arrested in
Prague, Czechoslovakia, Oct. 31,
when the Soviet airliner he was
riding made an unscheduled
landing there because of
"mechanical trouble."
The incident may become . a
significant roadblock to better
rciai:ons b. tween the 'U. S. and
'Czechoslovakia and Russia.
Washington has 'expressed its
displeasure to both governments
Mover the way Mr. Kazan
Komarek was "shanghaied."
GOT VISA
But the n.;; stery remains why
IMe. Kazan-Komarek, knowing
,he was wanted in
Czechoslovakia on ? old charges
i of espionage activities, asked
? Czech authorities for a visa to
travel in his native land. He got
tits: visa, good for. 'six' .months;.,
and it led to his arrest. '
M r'. K a z a n-Komarek's.
espionage' work .began.- after.
Worls.W;y NI,,
CPYRGHT
Czechoslovakia charges a Sources say this apparently
he worked with ' a Czech anti- ... it... Tr...,.....-1: L.,-a --.i
communist undercover group - -?^ ^---
Czechoslovakia and helped French intelligence.
espionage and attempted mur-
der" were brought against him
for alleged 'activities In 1948-51.
? There Is no explanation whether
sneak non-communist Czechs.' ' In 1953 he came briefly to the
out of the country. . U. S., married an American
During one such foray, in girl, and returned to Paris. Two
1951, Czechoslovakia charges, a years later he quit the spy
member of Mr. Komarek's . game, came back here, settled
group killed a Czech security in Massachusetts, and changed
police officer with a gun.' his name to Kazan. In 1960 he
supplied by Komarek. . became a U. S. citizen.
Hunting Mr. Komarek and his - He ran* a travel agency and
associates, the Czechs in 1951' sold small airplanes;, which
arrested an America newsman 'required travel on his part to
working in Prague. He was ' deliver them. High official U. S.
William Oatis of the Associated sources say Kazan-Komarek
Press. never spied for the U. S.
Mr. Oatis was wrongly,. INVITED TO MOSCOW
accused of being linked to the As a travel agent, Mr. Kazan
Komarek group, was sentenced Komarek r e p re s e n t e d the---
to 10 years, but was freed in Russian tourism office,
1953 during a series -of intourist, arranging travel . to
amnesties procla`uned following Russia for Americans
Last
.
Joseph Stalin's death. ' Sept. 5 he received an invitation
Mr. Komarek, from a hiding r to a Moscow conference ; of
place in West Germany, travel agents in October, to
b d f 41, 0'1907
r
a
o r
t
th
h
those were the same alleged ac-
tivities for which he was con-
victed in OR.
UNSCHEDULED
When Mr. Kazan-Komarek left i
Moscow Oct. 31 after the travel
conference his Russian plane
was scheduled to fly non-stop to
Paris. Instead it put down in'i
Prague and he Was arrested.
Moscow told Washington the
plane had radar trouble. But
informed sources here say. the
Czechs, alerted by Mr. '
Komarek's visa request, learned
his travel plans from Soviet.'
secret police and arranged the
Moscow is red-faced because
the Kremlin reportedly did' not 4
know its own police were setting
up the trap. ? ?'t
Washington insists Mr. Kazan-'
Komarek be freed but ."there
e p
e
ioa cas
e. p
at
at time over t
. e ~~ has not yet been too favorable.;
anticommunist R a d i'o Free international tourist year.. '
a response."
Europe, denying, : the Czech But' the preceding June- Mr. The Czechs'. want to keep on'
charges of murder, and saying Kazan-Komarek asked Czech good terms with the : S.,
there was no Komarek-Oatis 'authorities for a travel visa. He
remembering the Oatis affair.
link. - Could not then have known he, When they failed reporter Oatis,
IN ABSENTIA would later travel to Russia. Washington cut off all trade
I n 19 5 2 , Czechoslovakia Officials here say he has since ? with Czechoslovakia and it
arrested 11 Czechs and a said he had no intention of stayed cut until he was freed.
visiting. Czechoslovakia, even
Yugoslav, charged them as Mr. the his mother still lives there. But the Kazan-Komarek case'.
Komarek's associates. Mr. has now had so much publicity
He did not explain why he -:that
Komarek was tried in absentia
sl
v
C
ch
ki
f
it
l
.
?
ze
o
o
a
a
s
ee
.with them, and Mr. Oatis was wanted the visa. He had never, must 'go ahead with a trial.'
i
l
'
'
ous
y.
And he must
brought from his prison cell to:,,,. got one prev
' Informed' opinion here is that he
have known of his 1952 trial and
i testify. Mr. Oatis said he never will ' be tried and ? convicted.
knew ? Mr. Komarek. But Mr. conviction in Czechoslovakia.
*?. probably` this month, then:,
'Komarek 'and the 12 were . . Czechoslovakia no'w says'.that ` perhaps thrown out , of the
j convicted . '. 4 in 1903:charges of "high treagon,':.,country,
Approved For Release 1999/09/17: CIA-RDP75-00149R000400290003=7