INVESTIGATION OF CZECHOSLOVAK LEADERS

Document Type: 
Collection: 
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
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
February 15, 1954
Content Type: 
REPORT
File: 
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80-00809A000500800127-0.pdf93.5 KB
Body: 
?5X1 Approved For Rele se 2005/08/17 : CIA-R P80-00809A000500800127-0 SECRET CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY INFORMATION REPORT ?5X1SAJe.lECT ^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 25X1 25X1 I 25X1 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 s^~ Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000500800127-0 II 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. 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000500800127-0