SOVIETS WANT INFORMATION ON DEFECTOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000100580014-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 24, 2010
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: October 26, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/24: CIA-RDP90-00552R000100580014-4
ASSOCIATED PRESS
26 October 1983
MOSCOW
SOVIETS WANT INFORMATION ON DEFECTOR
A Soviet newspaper on Wednesday printed an "appeal" to the Italian government
for information on journalist Oleg Bitov, who reportedly defected to the West
and is now in London.
The newspaper, Literary Gazette, said there had been no information about the
fate of Bitov, who went to Venice to cover a film festival for the paper.
But it was not clear if the article had been written before British officials
announced in London Tuesday that Bitov had defected. The British Home Office
identified Bitov as foreign editor of the weekly paper.
Bitov disappeared Sept. 7, and Literary Gazette said in an earlier story that
it feared he had been kidnapped by Western agents. That story claimed the CIA
often captures loyal Marxists and "parades" them before the world public, an
indication the Soviets expected Bitov to turn up in the West.
"Since the moment of the vanishing of 0. Bitov, 47 days have passed," wrote
Literary Gazette. "Despite the appeal of the newspaper, of his mother and
relatives, nothing substantive of what has happened to him was said ...
"That is why the Literary Gazette once again appeals to the competent organs
of Italy with an appeal to react at least to the tears of the mother and to
understand the worries of the relatives of Bitov and to announce what has
happened to him... Tell us what's happened."
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/24: CIA-RDP90-00552R000100580014-4