INVESTIGATION OF CZECHOSLOVAK LEADERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000500800127-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 1, 2003
• Sequence Number: 127
• Publication Date: February 15, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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Approved For Rele se 2005/08/17 : CIA-R P80-00809A000500800127-0
SECRET
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
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^IS "CURZAT C ^ .. s$ I T10. A..[CTINO ?at NATIONAL DEFENSE
O. T.t u01Tt6 STATES. .1T111. T.t^E0.INS OF TITLE 1E. SECTIONS 168
Yr 164. O. T^t u.s. cost. .S Ar t^Sts. ITS To"salo$ION so SETS.
L?TION of, ITS CO.TENTS To SI OtcEnT ST .J. w.uTw0I7t0 -111ON 1E
1..N1lITt0'IR LA
DATE DISTR. / 'Feb 1954
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS.
SUPP. TO
REPORT NO.
1 On 26 Dec 53, P. N. Pospelov. member of the secretariat of the Central
Committee of the Soviet Communist Party and A. B. A:~~S>~ov chairman of
the security department of the Central Committee, arjlved in Prague to
continue the investigation of Czechoslovak Communist leaders begun in
Oct 1953 by N. I. Semenpy. secretary of Embassy in Prague. They were
under the orders of K. F. Lunev, Soviet First Deputy Minister of the
Interior.
This investigation was touched off by the capture of Col. Jan Bof ko at
Lesky Krumlov in South Bohemia on 19 Dec 53. Bojko was a close collaborator
of?Gen. Bedrich Reicin executed during the purge of the #1insk group.
?3ojko, a Slovak, generally believed dead, had actually been concealed by
Sldnskyls followers and was detected trying to reach Austria on the way
to Yugoslavia with important documents.
3. Hisba?*ure revealed a conspiracy involving the highest circles of Communist
leadership and increased Soviet suspicion with regard to Czechoslovak
unwillingness to purge unreliable elements. Soviet authorities have placed
the responsibility on Dr. Stefan Reiss, former Alinizter of Justice, a
Hungarian Jew by birth, but considered a Slovak. He is a protege of
President Zapotocky.
4. With a view to avoiding further inquiries the Czechoslovak government
decided on 22 Dec 53 to place on trial Gustav Hun-Ak and Ldco ioynm=,
former Slovak ministers and friends of Dr. Viado Clementis, who have been
in prison since 1951. Due to the political tension in Slovakia the Prague
Government has long hesitated to place the two man on trial. This
hesitation has been adroitly exploited by Karol Bacilek, a Slovak, who
was ousted from the government on 15 Sep 53. Now secretary general of
the Slovak Communist Party, Bacflek is struggling for reiategr.UUon
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This report Is for the use within the USA of the Intelligence components of the Departments or
Agencies indicated above. It is not to be transmitted overseas without the concurrence of the
originating office through the Assistant Director of the Office of CoUecl;1on and Dissemination, CIA.
Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000500800127-0
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in the government at the expense of ViliamSrokv, himself a Slovak.'
Baculek denounced the slowness of the government in bringing Husak and Novomeskj
to trial to J. B. Bex7ezin, Soviet Consul Oenc:a1 in Bratislava. and:Beryezin
initiated the Oct investigation of Czechoslovak leaders.
6. The Kremlin is profoundly dissatisfied with Zdpotocky, who has officially been
declared ill for some weeks. The disclosures on the arrest of BoJkolinvolve
very important issues. It is considered th^t the next president must be a
Slovak, and Siroky, BacIlek and Julius ur,L are all canidates, while Frantiiek
Zupka is expected to succeed Gustav ~t as head of the syndicalist 6s rization
URO (Central Labor Union Council).
The result of the investigation is expected to shake further Zapotockyts position,
and the government would.then fall into the hands of Slovaks at the very moment
when it would become necessary to execute Husk and Novomesky. There is great
anxiety in Prague.
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Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000500800127-0