THE CHESS PLAYER WAS A SOVIET AGENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000700110044-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 9, 2004
• Sequence Number: 44
• Publication Date: October 24, 1967
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 2004/12115 : CIA-RDP75-00149RO0,670011 Q044,8
1)T ~PflVfl , V1 nna
r'li fal?f.(:1[m 1'' I(*t
The Chess Placer Was A Soviet Agent
l{aoitg,round of the Anarmv Carle -- I)ip:l.onnat found h.ia victim In a
Col'r er flourir.
Vienna. The case of the accredited Soviet Attache in Vienna, M.A.S.
Anasov, has created a sensation with the Austrian public. As reported, the
diplomat, a member of the Soviet civilian intelligence service, attempted
to bribe a Vienna municipal official and was caught in the act. How Anasov
proceeded to reach his objective has now become known in detail.
The attache approached the municipal official at a chess club, located
in a coffee house in the Seventh District. The municipal official is a mem-
ber of this chess board ---a coincidence which the diplomat had cleverly
controlled. In order to secure the good will of the official, he [the dip-
lomat] surprised him first with small gifts; sometimes the gifts were
theater tickets and at other times books. That was last year. In the spring
of 1967, Anasov let his real intentions show through for the first time.
He first carefully questioned the official, who worked in Municipal Depart-
ment 61 for Citizenship Matters, about his type of work and one day he
openly stated what he wanted.
There are two versions about this: Vienna City Hall officials surmise
that the content of specific citizenship records: other sources believe
that he intended to get his victim to make false file cards and to smuggle
them into the records. This would have made :it possible for the Soviet
Intelligence Service to supply an agent with Austrian documents. The agent
would not have to had to do anything but apply for a proof of citizenship
record, which would have most probably been issued to him on the basis of
the false material inserted in the files.
There are also two interpretations about what happened after Anasov
made his proposal to the municipal official. While it is explained in the
City Council that the official became suspicious when this chess partner
suddenly went beyond his customary attentiveness and attempted to press
money on him -- a fact the official immediately reported to his superiors
other sources claim the official took the money. A total of about 4,000
shillings was reportedly involved. The official is said to have lost his
nerve at the last moment and reported the matter. He informed the City
Council, which reported the matter to the state police.
Approved For Release 2004/12/15 : CIA-RDP75-00149R000700110044-8