I. SOVIET LEADERSHIP.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A000100060007-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 27, 2000
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: July 1, 1953
• Content Type: OUTLINE

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Soviet Leadership.
A. consistency of present Soviet tactics (intern
foreign policy) argues that there is at least temporary
agreement within top leadership.
Beneath this agreement there are signs of tension.
leadership has not yet stabilized.
1. Presidium member L. G. Melaikov was removed from
his top Ukrainian post. Be was criticized for in-
correct handling of the Ukraine's Western Oblasts
long a seat of potential disaffection. He was
also out of step with the new regime's policy of
soft pedalling Stalin's harsh Ruseification policy.
However, his removal was probably due to Moscow
politics.
2. Appearance of *alyshev (and not Meinikov) at opera
on 27 June suggests he has replaced Melnikov on
the top fourteen man Party Presidium.
Malyshev is an important member
e technical
bureaucracy with solid economic--administrative ex-
perience.
4. Absence of Berl.a
significant.
could prove extremely
a) Might indicate that Benin is to be scapegoat
for inefficient security system in Germany
a1_Vit.`r i, a: 372044
? - -
en.
ver, it is too early to tell.
In the past not unusual for one or more
leaders to be absent on occasion of general
appearance of leadership.
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Soria may be on
tour in Germany and
y inspection
Pattern of rop1atc+a 1t of !D Ministers
in the Soviet Republics suggests Serials
power continued through the south of June.
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Ia current
ca indicates
ad policy within the Alin
ion and political maneuvering within the delicately
balanced top leadership. 't`he best example was the recent c
L. G. i In kov, one of the fourteen man ruling presidium,
and his subsequent
r as First ta
re have recently been some
icized for incorrect adainistratioa of the
vs been a haven for ant
and a general trouble spot ever since the Soviet Union as
It of the
with the
Apparently, Relnikov
,eegi to present policy
aainori ties.
icy of sst
appeared with eleven of the pr
Ialysbev,
,
members at the Belabol
on the evening of 27 Joao. *lysheey is minister of Transport
and Heavy
ding sad an important member
sisal bureaucracy. Be is a representative of the younger group
of Soviet administrators who have been trainsd in the bard
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.what may prove far more significant than this shift, however,
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culations.
was L. F. .Beris's absence from the performance
observers have speculated t'
blame for a security system which permitted the lit
riots, and manifestations of unrest elsewhere in Eastern
oh as Czechoslovakia His failure to appear with his
on this occasion, however, is by no means conclusive WOO
face or power.
vising the
day
1 be personally suer-
fa of control in Ger
not unusual for one or more leaders to
occasions.
Ssria's hand as Sg SFD chief appeared to be still visible
throughout the month of June,, W
ailed to nine the number of now S ministers ap-
death. Five of the replaced ministers
had risen to power under S. D. Ignatiev, the chief scapegoat for
to any case, we are watching the si t.:.
very closely for other signs which might clarity his status an
that of the other leaders.
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eounc
addition to McInikov and Beria, presidium member H. 0. A.
was also abet. However, it is likely that he remain
most part in Azerbaijan where be is chairman of the
of Ministers and head of the Party Hmro.
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