ABC NIGHTLINE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000605730008-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2010
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: August 23, 1984
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/30: CIA-RDP90-00
ABC NIGHTLINE
23 August 1984
KOPPEL: Good evening. I'm Ted Koppel, and this is Nigh
Andrei Sahkarov is almost certainly a production of the kub, wnicn may be one of
the world's most-feared secret police organizations. But when it comes to
making movies, sublety is obviously not its strong point. (Sakharov film)
UNIDENTIFIED ANNOUNCER: What could be more pleasant than a nice chat?
KOPPEL: What, then, is the purpose of the film? We'll examine that question
with Ladislav Bittman, a former Czech intelligence officer whose job was
creating disinformation, with Soviet expert William Hyland and with Tatiana
Yankelevich, Dr. Sakharov's stepdaughter. On May 2 of this year, Andrei
Sakharov began a protest hunger strike because the Soviets refused to allow his
wife to leave the country for needed medical treatment. Almost nothing has been
seen or heard of the Sakharovs since, except for couple of black-and-white
photographs that were sold to a German newspaper a number of weeks back.
Recently, that same newspaper, Bild, acquired some film which ABC News in turn
purchased from them. We're going to look at a big chunk of that film now. The
narrative, which we've had translated, is largely self-explanatory, but watch
for these points: hunger strike--Sakharov is seen eating; his poor health and
hers--she is seen smoking, shopping, driving, he reading, chatting and walking;
to date scenes, magazines that are clumsily inserted wherever possible, and to
diminish the impact of exile--the Sakharovs cannot leave Gorky--the viewer is
treated at the beginning of this film to a fulsome travelogue. Take a look.
VOICE OF TRANSLATOR: Since January 1980, academician Andrei Sahkarov and his
wife, Yelena Bonner, have been living in Gorky by the decision of the
authorities. At 214 *Gargaren Prospect, they occupy a four-room apartment on
the ground floor. Sakharov was assigned the post of senior research worker, and
their family budget, including his life-long academician salary, is now 800
rubles a month. They rent a car which they Lake turns to drive. When they
first moved in, the academician took an active part in making the apartment
comfortable and in improving the apartment lot courtyard outside. On the whole,
the couple spend most of their time together, just the two of them. They go out
for walks in the town and for drives, and although they keep to themselves, they
are glad to welcome visitors at their home, both relatives or simply friends.
Academician Sakharov'.s son, Dimitri, came on a visit from Moscow to stay with
his father. And here's his daughter, Tatiana, and his grandaughter, *Marana,
taking a walk in the park and through the town. Sakharov himself never leaves
Gorky, but until recently, Bonner had this right and made regular visits to
Moscow. According to reports in the Soviet press, Bonner established contacts
with the U.S. Embassy and planned to take refuge there so as to blackmail the
authorities into granting her request by putting pressure on them. She would
have been in much the same position as were recently the group of Pentecostals
who had lived in the embassy for over five years. To prevent Bonner from taking
such actions in the future, she has now been temporarily banned by the
authorities from leaving Gorky and at present she goes to local prosecutor's
office to give explanations. In her everyday life, Yelena Bonner looks a little
more dynamic than her husband. It's usually she who fills up the car and she
who drives a lot about the town, meeting acquaintances and friends. Like all
wives, Bonner has taken the burden of house sitting upon herself. Her husband,
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/30: CIA-RDP90-00552R000605730008-4