1. THE SOVIET CENTER IN SOFIA 2. SOVIET PERSONNEL IN BULGARIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004000730009-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 1, 2009
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: April 29, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2009/05/01 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004000730009-8
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
SECRi T/CONTROL d U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
DATE OF INFO.
Bulgaria
1. The Soviet Center in Sofia
2. soviet Personnel in Bulgaria
REPORT L_
DATE DISTR.
25X1
29 April 1954
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
The Soviet Center in Sofia
1, Headquarters of the large Soviet network in Bulgaria and its numerous services
are located in a 2-story building on Khadzhi Dimo Street in Sofia. This is a
small side street near the Ruski Pametnik, the. Red Cross Hospital,, and Zavod12.
The building is of massive brick and concrete construction and the presence of
windows at certain place's along the ground level may indicate the existence of a
basement. All first floor windows are fitted with bars, but only a portion of
the second floor windows have bars.
2, Soviets dressed in civilian clothes and a few in uniform have been observed
entering the building. A Bulgarian militiaman guards the entrance to the yard,
and a civilian guard is posted at the entrance to the building, The latter
speaks 'Bulgarian with a Russian accent.
There is very little traffic on this street. The few cars which have been
observed repeatedly near the building'included ZrS and ZIM models, which may
indicate high rank for certain personnel at the center.
Soviet Personnel in Bulgaria
4. On 29 January 1954, a certain Sukhodolski arrived in Sofia from the USSR. He was
met at the airport by numerous officials of the Ministry of Interior, among them
Deputy-Minister Kumbiliev. The head of the Militia in Sofia, Stoyanov (fnu), was
also present in civilian clothes. Sukhodolski's baggage was not examined.
Soviet specialists in Bulgaria, reportedly about 3,000, are rated either as advisors
or experts. All specialists deal with the Soviet embassy through a special liaison
office. Specialists rated as advisors hold diplomatic passports,
6. M. F. Bodrov, former Soviet ambassador to Sofia, stated that more than 350 men were
employed- by the embassy, which figure probably included all who held diplomatic
passports, The recent increase in movements of Soviets in and out of Bulgaria
may indicate that the USSR is replacing its personnel there.
STATE :j j*
25 YEAR RE-REVII=\AII
SECRET/CONTROL ? U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
ZC AIR X FBI AEC
Approved For Release 2009/05/01 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004000730009-8