WAGES, PRICES, AND SOCIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN BARANOVICHI

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005300260002-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 18, 2007
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: October 1, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/07/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005300260002-6
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This mat.erfal'contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of.;the Espionage Laws, Title
18. U.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized perdpn is prohibited by law.
S-E-C-R-E-T
NOFORN/CONTINUED CONTROL
SUBJECT:
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
DATE ACQUIRED
USSR (Belortassian SSR)
Wages, Prices, and Sociological
Conditions in Baranovichi
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 25 October 1955
NO. OF PAGES 2
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
1. Severe labor shortages existed-in 195+ in rural districts in'the vicinity of .
~aranovichi (N 53-08, .E 26,02); because' naiy all the young men were in the
arwj or bad- migrated to the city in search of better pay, At the same, time,
a surplus of labor *as',said'.to exist' in'Baranovibfii..
Food prices were. so high in. relation .to wages earned, Lthat 'the chief source of
nourishment was:.,bread. Some representative prices. paid in Baranovichi in
195+ are listed below.l .._25X1
Ite '
Black bread.
Salted.herring
Sugar
MIA.
Margarine
Potatoes
Unit Price in Rubles Comments
1 kg 2,35
1 kg 25-
1 kg
1 kg
1 kg
10,5
7
Schnapps 1 it 50. 40 percent alcohol.
Movie theater ticket
1 it 18 to 25,
1 bto5.
S-E-C-R-E-T
NOFORN/CONTINt1ED CONTROL
STATE X ARMY X T NAVY
AIR. I X FBI AEC
(Note: Washington distribution indicated by "X"; Field distribution by
Approved For Release 2007/07/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005300260002-6
/25X
 Approved For Release 2007/07/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005300260002-6
S-E-C-R-E-T
NGFC)RN/CONTTINLTED CON'T.ROL
14. An increase in robbery and hooliganism was noticeable in Baranovichi after
the amnesty following Stalin's death. The police were ineffective against
the violence which often occurred on the streets and were likewise unable
to control the organized bands of children Who made large stores and churches
their prime operating grounds for picking pockets and stealing. Numerous dis-
abled veterans and other victims of the war, who received a meager pension
or none at all, supported themselves by begging in the streets.
5. After Stalin's death, judicial procedure became less arbitrary. Whereas
formerly, two witnesses had been sufficient to establish guilt, cases were
investigated in spite of testimony. In order to obtain a decision in a
divorce case, the consent of the wife was required and the husband was held
responsible after divorce for her support and the support of their children.,
Comment: Some prices listed are much higher tha:x, previously
reported. other informant listed the following prices per kilogram pail
-IC
for various commodities in late 1954: Black bread, 1015 rubles; sugar.,
8,.9 rubles; and potatoes, 1.75 to two rubles.
S-E-C-R-E-T
NOFORNiCONTINU.E'D CONTROL
Approved For Release 2007/07/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005300260002-6