SOVIET AND EAST EUROPEAN PARAPSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: STARGATE
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): NSA-RDP96X00790R000100010041-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 19
• Document Creation Date: November 4, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 1, 2011
• Sequence Number: 41
• Publication Date: April 1, 1977
• Content Type: REPORT

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Soviet and East European
Parapsychology Rerearcl~
51 77-10012
April 1977
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April 197 7
Soviet and East European Parapsychology Research
Project Officer
Thomas C. Hamilton
Some recent US research suggests that it may be possible to use
certain paranormal abilities for military or intelligence purposes. There
are major uncertainties, however, about the extent to which such
abilities exist, their reliability, and their mechanisms of operation. The
practical utilization of these abilities has not yet been demonstrated
conclusively.
Analysis of information from a number of sources indicates that the
Soviets have a parapsychology research program whose existence is
classified and whose funding and control reside largely with the
Ministry of Defense and possibly the KGB. A small number of well-
funded, closed institutions and research centers in the Soviet Union
reportedly are staffed with competent scientists engaged in research on
the potential military and intelligence applications of parapsychological
phenomena.
The accomplishments and importance of the Soviet research cannot
be assessed accurately at this time. The program has been broad in
scope, but its focus appears to be narrowing to those areas identified as
having the greatest potential for applied use. Concurrently, the Soviet
government appears to be exerting continually tighter control over
unclassified parapsychological research. Researchers in the classified
program apparently are being assigned an increasingly greater portion
of the research, while the publicly acknowledged, academically oriented
researchers are finding it increasingly difficult to conduct experiments,
to disseminate their research results, and to communicate with foreign
colleagues.
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-~EF_?FIET
SOVIET AND EAST EUROPEAN PARAPSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH
Project Officer
Thomas C. Hamilton
SI 77-10012
April 1977
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE
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PREFACE
The quality of most published parapsychology literature has been poor, or at best
suspect, and often has been totally unscientific. The field frequently has been
associated with the occult. Reported parapsychological phenomena often have seemed
to conflict with prevailing beliefs Consequently, evaluations of research data and of
research projects frequently have been based largely on highly polarized emotional
biases rather than on the scientific competency of the research effort. These factors
make it difficult to assess accurately the intelligence importance of parapsychology.
The small fraction of scientific open literature that is based on well-documented
research using the scientific method has dealt largely with non-applications oriented
aspects of parapsychology. Afew closely monitored experiments recently conducted in
the West, however, indicate that there are several paranormal phenomena that
potentially could be used for such things as acquiring information of intelligence value
or influencing electronic circuitry remotely. A recent study by the DCI's Scientific and
Technical Intelligence Committee refers to in~hat a new direction in science lies in
the area of parapsychological research "
Soviet scientists have long shown an interest in applied paranormal phenomena.
Their interest has sometimes reflected research experience in areas of parapsychology
that are not discussed in Soviet open literature Previous analyses of the large volume
of Soviet parapsychology publications from the past several decades provided no clear
indication of the quality, extent, or intent of the potentially applied areas of Soviet
research. Nor was there a clear indication of Soviet military or intelligence
involvement in parapsychological research.
To fill the information gap, two contractual investigations were undertaken. In the
first study, recent Soviet emigres were interviewed in an attempt to determine if the
Soviets had instituted classified research programs for the study of paranormal
phenomena. The interviews provided the names of Soviet scientists and research
institutes reportedly dedicated to classified research programs involving various
aspects of parapsychology The second study employed an interdisciplinary team of
research scientists to evaluate the scientific merit of Soviet and East European open
literature on parapsychology.
This analysis considers the results of these contractual studies, along with
additionally available intelligence information, and assesses the current organization,
scope, quality, and potential national security implications of Soviet parapsychology
research.
The report was prepared by the Office of Scientific Intelligence and was
coordinated within CIA. The cutoff date for information is January 1977.
'V~eHS on Emerging Areas of Science and Technology Potentially Important to National Secunty
STIC i~-4, December 19T (Confidential)
iii
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TECHNICAL FOREWORD
The term parapsychology has become somewhat of a catch-all label used to denote
the study of unexplained and seemingly inexplicable (hence paranormal) phenomena.
The phenomena usually are associated with mental (psychological) functioning, but
they also include unexplained physical processes (such as dowsing). Because many
parapsychological phenomena often appear to be magical or spiritual, the popular
image of parapsychology includes the occult.
When considered as a science, parapsychology research basically consists of
controlled experiments designed to determine whether reported paranormal
phenomena can be reproduced under laboratory conditions, to elucidate the physical
mechanisms responsible for the observed phenomena; or to determine and to improve
the reliability and mformation quality (usability) of the phenomena.
Terms frequently used to define parapsychological phenomena include the
following.
Telepathy. The mental communication between a sender and a recipient.
Clairvoyance. The perception of information about definite events, phenomena,
or objects without the participation of an active sender
Precognition. A special case of clairvoyance in which a person perceives
mformation about future events
Psychokinesis. The influencing of matter by force of the mind, such as mentally
moving objects or mentally affecting electrical circuits.
These four phenomena, although not a complete set of all those usually associated
with parapsychology, encompass the areas judged to have the greatest potential for
applied uses Scientific investigations of other paranormal phenomena are also
potentially important because they may provide greater insight into the fundamental
physical mechanisms, if any, underlying these four phenomena
A few? recent experiments that were closely monitored and reasonably well
controlled indicate that at least some potentially significant paranormal phenomena
can in fact be reproduced under laboratory conditions Several theoretical studies have
concluded that such phenomena are not at variance with known physical laws, and a
number of mechanisms of action (such as extremely low frequency electromagnetic
radiation acting as an information carrier) have been hypothesized. Nonetheless, the
existence of paranormal phenomena having potential national security implications
remains a moot point that can be determined conclusively only through further
scientific research, if at all.
But before an accurate assessment can be made of their potential usefulness, the
reliability and information quality of paranormal phenomena that are determined to
exist under controlled laboratory conditions will need to be quantified. Evaluations of
the importance of foreign parapsychological research therefore must be made in this
light, and paranormal abilities must be regarded as tools whose intelligence/military
significance is potentially great but whose significance cannot yet be assessed
accurately.
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CONTENTS
Page
PREFACE "'
................. .... ...... ....... ................... iii
TECHNICAL FOREWORD ............... .............. . ............ v
PROBLEM .. .... ............ ..... ................. .. .. ... 1
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS .. ... ......... 1
Background ...... ............................................... 1
Research Organization .......... ... ......... ..................... 2
Research Progress .. ..... ..... ... .................... ........ 3
Clairvoyance (Remote Viewing) .... ..... ............... ........ 3
Telepathy ........ ............ .... ............................ 4
Psychokinesis ........................ ..... ................. 6
Hypnosis, Autogenic Training, and Yoga ......... . ............ ..... 6
Black Magic .... ..... ..... .................................... 6
Covert Research Facilities ........ .. ......... ..................... 6
Significance of the Soviet Program ...... .... .. ........... ....... 7
Potential Uses ... .... .... .... .. .... ........... 7
Success Probability ..... ... ... ... .... ...... ....... ... 8
Related Research Benefits .. .... .......... ... ........ , 8
APPENDIX
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Classified Soviet Parapsychology Research Facilities ....... .............. 11
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SOVIET AND EAST EUROPEAN PARAPSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH
PROBLEM
To assess the organization, scope, potential intelligence value, and military
significance of Soviet parapsychological research.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of information from a number of sources
indicates that the Soviets have a parapsychology
research program ~?hose existence is classified and
whose funding and control reside largely with the
Ministry of Defense and possibly the KGB. This
program reportedly has been active since the early
1960s, is staffed by competent scientists and
technicians, and includes about 10 research units that
range in size from a single laboratory to large institutes
employing se.?eral hundred people (e. g., the
parapsychology institute on Vorobyovyye Gori in
Moscow }
The classified research has included virtually all
areas of paraps}'cholog~ but has emphasized heavily
those areas that the Soviets apparently believe have
the greatest potential for intelligence and military
uses. These include cla-rvoyance (remote viewing) to
acquire intelligence information about remote
locations not accessible by other means, telepathy to
influence remotely the physical and/or mental state of
targeted -ndividuals, and telepathy to establish covert,
possibly undetectable, communications channels.
They also may include psychokinesis to affec__t._the_
operation of remote electronic circuitry.
Although available information does not permit a
confident judgment to be made of Soviet ac-
complishments, over the past decade the classified
program probably has had at least some success in
improving the reliability and quality of information
obtained from certain paranormal phenomena. It
apparently has instilled at least moderate confidence
in the feasibility of developing significantly useful,
applied paranormal systems. Furthermore, the Soviet
researchers have gained experience with a greater
variety of research methods than have their US
counterparts and probably have completed more of
the critical experiments needed to evaluate adequatel}'
the potential applications of paranormal abilities.
Although information is available on the objectives of
the projects included in the classified Soviet program,
specific research results are not known.
The government also influences or controls most of
the unclassified parapsychology research in both the
Soviet Union and in Eastern Europe This has enabled
the USSR to maintain tight control over the research
-nformation published in open literature. Research
results from the classified program have not been
found in the open literature, and only minor
indications of cogent, scientific research associated
with a classified, applied program have been detected
Furthermore, researchers in the classified program
apparently are being assigned an increasingly greater
percentage of the research, while the publicly
acknowledged, academically oriented researchers are
finding it increasingly difficult to conduct experi-
ments, to disseminate their research results, and to
communicate with foreign colleagues.
DISCUSSION
Laboratory investigations of paranormal phe-
nomena have been conducted in the USSR since at
least the 1930s. The initial research, with the exception
of the excellent work by Vasilyev on telepathy,' usually
was conducted without government sponsorship and
lacked formal direction, critical scientific review, and
dedicated research efforts. Consequently, the overall
quality of the research was poor. Furthermore, the
political climate caused Vasilyev's work to remain
largely unpublished until the 1960s s
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During the late I9SUti and early 1960s, the status of
parapsychology in the? Soviet Union changed 3 During
the early and mid-I9fi0s, an apparently officially
tolerated popularization of Soviet parapsychology' `
occurred concurrently with a rapid proliferation of
East-West scientific contacts 5_e But this policy
suddenh changed " "' around 1968, when independ-
ent parapsychological investigations and investigators
were suppressed and scientific contacts with the West
were sharply curtailed Numerous articles were
published expotiing parapsychological frauds' and
dismissing the? enure area of research as totally
unscientific s At the same time, however, official
Soviet policy !announced under the authorship of
several eminent Soviet scientists) supported the
continuation, under full governmental control, of
scientifically sound investigations sz
One result of the changed Soviet policy was a
dramatic decrease in information available to the
West about the status of Soviet parapsychology Some
reports suggested that this represented official Soviet
efforts to suppress parapsychological research and to
restrict the travel of the more prominent researchers.
Other reports suggested that a government sponsored
covert research program had been initiated and that
the new policy indicated government efforts to gain
tight contra! over all parapsychological research while
using the negative press coverage to camouflage the
continued, now secret, applied parapsychological
research 9 10 is-2P Determination of the actual state of
paraps} chology in the Soviet Union and Eastern
Europe has been impeded largely by the closed Soviet
society, H?hich has sharply limited the availability of
analvticall~ useful information ~'
RESEARCH ORGANIZATION
Soviet and East European parapsychological
research appears to be divided into two separate
categories Officially supported research groups
reportedly funded by the KGB and the military; and
part-time, often hobbiest type researchers supported or
tolerated only by their universities s is za The officially
supported groups perform virtually all of the
applications-oriented research. They appear to include
only Soviet researchers, with East European
investigators being kept isolated from details of the
applied Soviet research.21 zs ze The Soviets may be
influencing the direction of selected East European
research projects in order to acquire additional
experimental data.'e +s
The first official Soviet research program reportedly
included, during the earl}? through late 1960s,
-nvestigat-ons into a broad range of parapsychological
phenomena and utilized a large number of
researchers.9 i3 2' 23 ss Historically, L' S research has
dealt largely with attempting to prove statistically that
paranormal processes exist By comparison, Soviet
research has generally accepted the existence of
paranormal phenomena, which assumedly obey
known physical and chemical laws, and has attempted
to determine the biophysical and physiological aspects
of the reported phenomena ' i3 zz so Soviet research
also has been more concerned with demonstrating
practical uses of paranormal phenomena. These
differences in philosophy have resulted in the
development of awes!-integrated, multidisciplinary
approach to parapsychological research in the USSR.
In contrast, US research has been, and largely
continues to be, fragmented in organization and quite
narrow in scope. In addition, Soviet emphasis on
interdisciplinary, physical-science research probably
has served to reduce the degree of mysticism normally
associated with parapsychological research, and may
have made it easier, and politically more acceptable,
for Soviet policymakers to fund proposed research
projects
During recent years the number of research topics of
the official Soviet program have been reduced and
now? include only those areas evaluated to be, based on
the previous years of study, potentially the most
useful." s3 Also, the selection and control of
researchers have become more strict, with only
government-chosen investigators allowed to conduct
research in the areas identified to be potentially the
most useful 0 23 26 Z'
Many of the publicly known Soviet researchers who
have been active in parapsychology for numerous
years are being inhibited from continuing their
research efforts.zs z' The replacement of known
researchers by new, government selected ones has
enabled the Soviets to gain effective control over the
dissemination of research data and thus has served to
establish an effective covert research effort.
The publicly known researchers who are continuing
active research in "parapsychology" are involved in
areas of research such as dermal optics (skin vision,
such as identifying colors or reading newspaper print
only through touch) or Kirlian {high voltage}
photography,ss zz sa This group of researchers, in
conjunction with East European researchers,
nonetheless provides the Soviets with a channel for
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gaining access to Western research data At the same
time, this channel can be used to provide the West
with information vieHed b~ the Soviets as having little
or no potential for significant applications
Unofficial parapsychological research is scattered
broadh~ throughout the USSR and East Europe
(particularly Czechoslovakia). Much is done on a
part-time basis by investigators who often are poorly
qualified to conduct serious research. The resulting
publications, H hich comprise virtually all of the
available Soviet open literature, have been
scientifically poor, often anecdotal in nature, and
frequently have included topics dealing with the
occult or with areas of research that are related only
peripherally to actual paranormal research 13 The few
publications that appear to have scientific merit do
not include sufficient data to permit a reliable analysis
of the qualit}~ of the work This has produced a
confusing picture of Soviet parapsychological research
and has provided an effective cover for the officially
sanctioned, applied research program
The government-sponsored, applied program
appears to be organized much more efficiently.
Research during most of the 1960s apparently
included a broad range of "parapsychological"
phenomena and reportedh was conducted at roughly
11 facilities ranging ~n size from single laboratories to
institutes with several hundred employees s z3 The
research now has been narrowed in scope and has been
consolidated into a smaller number of facilities
Furthermore, the major research activities seem to
have been confined to Moscow, with supporting or
collaborating facilities located near Baku and in Alma
Ata and Novosibirsk z3
The Soviet research program has been moderately
large in comparison to L S investigations and has
been given considerable support. For instance, most of
the several hundred employees said to be working in
the parapsychology institute of the Institute for
Problems of Information Transmission (IPPI) in
Moscow were said to be technicians who designed and
built much of the instrumentation needed by the
actual research scientists Furthermore, substantial
support has been provided for record keeping and
library research.za
The applied Soviet research program is efficiently
organized, but the strict control being exerted over it
by the KGB and the military makes it possible for non-
technically based managerial decisions to retard the
programs progress In some instances, decisions may
have been made ~tthout the benefit of sound
scientific anah~sis and practical research experience.
The effectiveness of the applied program also is being
affected by the gradual replacement of traditional
parapsychologists b. government researchers new to
the field za In addition to losing sources of funding, the
"traditional" researchers are experiencing officially
directed pressure designed to inhibit their continued
experimentation in parapsychology zi This situation
probabh will affect the program adversely in the short
run but most likely will prove beneficial in the long
term The investigators being chosen to take over
research projects appear in general to be better trained
~n the physical and the physiological sciences than
those the}' are replacing and thus should be more
capable of elucidating the physical and physiological
mechanisms responsible for paranormal phenomena
The new researchers also are more applications
oriented and therefore can be expected to identify
useful projects more efficiently and to produce useable
products more quickly These benefits should
compensate for the temporary slowdowns in research
progress that can be expected to occur while the newly
appointed researchers acquire the necessary expertise
and background in their assigned fields
Some evidence is available on existing applied
Soviet research projects and on the degree of progress
they have achieved thus far Clairvoyance of remote
locations and objects appears to be among the
paranormal phenomena the Soviets have selected for
additional study This phenomenon, often termed
remote. viewing, also as een identi ied~by US.re-
searchers as having high potential for applied use ze zs
In addition, the Soviets reportedly have been studying
telepathy, psychokinesis, and black magic in their
covert program, as well as integrating biomedical
instrumentation technology with various techniques
used -n hypnosis, autogenic training (biofeedback),
and yoga,s za
Clairvoyance (Remote Viewing)
The experimental methods used by the Soviets for
remote viewing research differ significantly from those
in the U S. Whereas U.S. experiments are conducted
with the subject (the "remote viewer") in a completely
normal, conscious state,30 the Soviets reportedly rely
heavily on hypnotism, biofeedback, yoga, and drugs
to induce trances and trance-like states.23 Further-
more, the Soviets apparently have tested, and may be
trying to develop, training techniques for teaching
subjects who previously had not demonstrated any
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remote view tng abilities to acquire and to use this
paranormal ability, and for improving the reliability
and the quality of the information received zs
Regardless of whether the Soviets have successfully
produced improved remote viewing capabilities using
these diverse procedural methods, they have
established a data base of experimental methods that
~s not available to L'S researchers
The kinds of questions that Soviets have asked US
parapsychologists regarding remote viewing ex-
perimentation indicate that the Soviets have been
encountering similar, and perhaps greater, experimen-
tal difficulties than those being experienced in the US
For instance, at the June 1973 parapsychology
conference in Prague, Czechoslovakia, an inter-
nationally known American psychic was asked
mdependentl~ b~ each Soviet delegate a standard set
of questions on remote viewing The questions, which
were asked m approximately the same order, indicated
that the Soy lets 1) were trying to learn as much as
possible about Western work without giving up
anything, 2) ma. have encountered some problems
with emotional reactions on the part of their psychic
subjects, and 3) considered paranormal perception to
be a more fru-tful area of investigation than
psychokinesis 31
More recently, tw?o visiting Soviets, a cosmonaut
and a space s}~stems engineer, neither of whom was a
parapsychologist, sought out a group of US scientists
prominent in remote v~ew?ing research Although the
cosmonaut repeatedly claimed that the visit was in a
pnvate capacity, it was obvious that he had been
beefed and w?as probably following an agenda of
items to be discussed Furthermore, although the
Soviets asked numerous technical questions, they
responded to similar questions by their hosts in a less
than forthcoming manner. The Soviet questions on
parapsychology were primarily directed at remote
viewing experimental methodologies Specifically they
asked whether US scientists used trance states to
enhance paranormal abilities and seemed surprised to
hear the answer was "No." They also asked about
methods of inducing trance states and whether the
techniques of suggestion, hypnosis, trance states,
special training, repeated practice or repeated
experimental runs, or machines were used in training
personnel to use "abnormal" abilities.32
These reports are consistent with other information
indicating that the Soviets are using hypnosis and
other means to induce altered states of consciousness
in experiments on clairvoyance and telepathy. s s3 as
Because no comparable well-controlled US laboratory
research has been conducted, however, the potential
value of the Soviet techniques-in terms of their
ability to produce gifted subjects or to improve
information acquisition capabilities-cannot be
evaluated quantitative]} at this time. Nonetheless, the
apparent intelligence collection efforts described
above indicate that the Soviets either have
encountered research difficulties and are trying to gain
expertise from US researchers or are trying to acquire
details about what they believe to be a large, covert
US research program
Both reasons for the Soviet intelligence collection
activities are likely. Since most of the results of applied
L'S research have been published in open literature,
the Soviets probably believe this to be only asmall-
and probably the least interesting-portion of a large,
covert research effort Also, US research results suggest
that the apparent Soviet remote viewing methods, if
applied incorrectly, could affect adversely their
research progress Subjects attempting_ to_ "remote
view" often have )jeen poor at interpreting the data
they acquired through paranormal means if they
attempted to analyze the data too quickly.
Apparently, memory interfere with the accurate
reception and interpretation of information.30 Soviet
attempts to train subjects to acquire paranormal
abilities probably have involved training experts to
obtain information relative to their areas of
specialization 23 The knowledge (memory) possessed
b~ these specialists thus may have significantly
reduced the accuracy of the acquired information if
they were allowed to "dump to conclusions" based
only on their initial impressions Also, the reported
reliance on hypnosis, biofeedback, and other such
non-mystical (materialistic) techniques suggests that
the Soviets have attempted to obtain high quality,
quantitatively useful, analytical data from this
channel It may not be possible, however, to obtain
such reliable, highly accurate data through
clairvoyant techniques, and the Soviets, therefore, may
unw?ittingIy be making it more difficult for them to
achieve the goals of their research. If such is the case,
the USapplications-oriented research that recently has
been published in open literature ao as probably leads
the Soviets to believe that US researchers have
experimental expertise that would significantly benefit
the Soviet program.
Telepathy
The Soviets also reportedly are conducting research
on telepathy which includes sender-to-recipient
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communications, mind reading, and the_causing of
involuntary physiological and behavioral changes in
target -ndividuals 4 za so
I M I:ogan's c~cellent work on information theon?3'
also probably is included in the telepathy (and remote
viewing) portions of the Soviet covert research
program 50 This work, which deals with applied
mathematics rather than parapsychology, probably
has helped the Soviet program. Specifically, it has
provided Soviet parapsychologists with mathe-
matical]} sophisticated tools to analyze their
research results Such analyses would be significantly
less susceptible to criticism than are many of the
studies published by mathematically unsophisticated
US researchers This increased analytical sophistica-
tion, H hich has resulted from the fact that the Soviet
research program is organized on integrated,
multidiscipl~nar} lines, can reduce the amount of time
lost b} having to replicate poorly controlled and
poor]} e~ aluated experiments
Reports of telepath}? research-including one often
quoted Moscow-to-ltiovosibirsk experiment-have
appeared to Soviet open literature since the mid-
1960s -But the only indications that similar research is
being continued m the covert Soviet program are a few
reports from human intelligence sources.9 s3 +'-++
According to this information, the Soviets are
attempting to use tele athv in connection with their
manned space ro ram23 and are twin to influence
remotel}? t e behavior an or the physio ogy of
unw~ g argeted individuals zs +' -
- - - ----
Anal}t~cally useful experimental results from the
telepath} portion of the applied Soviet research are
not available, and little comparable, well-controlled
US laboratory research has been conducted. The single
noteworthy exception is one telepathy_ experiment
conducted about 1970 in the USSR36 and repeated,
with similar results, about two years later in the US 34
These experiments, both reported in__t_he open
literature, demonstrated than p siological_ changes
could be monitored in a recipient to indicate when a
light was flashed (at a repetition rate of 16 Hz) at a
remote sender
The primary Soviet investigator, at least in the
published version of this study, was G. A Sergeyev,
who specializes in applying statistical techniques to
the study of biological objects. Although he has
published several articles on the use of statistical
methods to analyze electroencephalograms and
"bioplasmagrams" (composite graphical representa-
tons of all electromagnetic emanations from a living
organ~sm)36-~s his involvement in parapsycholog}
seems to have been only on a part-time basis. His
publications indicate that he has devoted considerable
time recently to developing statistical methods that
have only broad general applications and that are not
related specifically to parapsychology?39 +? It is
unlike]}, therefore, that he is a major participant in
the applied Soviet paranormal' research program,sa
although he may be serving as a consultant (and
although he reportedly has been directing a small
instrumentation laboratory involved in the program).
Nonetheless, Sergeyev's methods are sound
scientifically, and his initial experiments may have
been followed up by other researchers involved in
applied research Only a few competent researchers
with backgrounds in electrical engineering and in
biomedical physiolog}?, plus a moderately small level
of support, would be required to extend Sergeyev's
initial research for the purpose of evaluating its
applications potential Again, however, no subsequent
Soviet research results are available, and no relevant
L'S work has been conducted to permit a meaningful
evaluation of the potential ,applied uses (e g., a
communication system utilizing physiological
instrumentation in coniunction with this paranormal
channel)
The Soviets also reportedly have investigated mind
reading capabilit-es,23 but no detailed information is
available to validate or repudiate these reports
Although it is not knoH?n if the Soviets are continuing
serious or sigmf-cant research in this area, initially it
probabl} was included in their broadly based effort. It
is important to note that no US rESearch has indicated
that information can be obtained telepathically from
a target individual without his active participation.
A recent report indicates that the Soviets are
attempting to develop hardware (probably electronic
equipment) that can induce remotely-apparently by
mimicking the biological processes involved-the
same physiological and behavioral effects reportedly
caused by telepathic suggestions.41 It is possible that
this information is a misidentification of other research
projects. The Soviets reportedly have been studying
the behavioral effects induced by non-ionizing
electromagnetic radiation (NIEMR).46 This area of
research is often categorized as parapsychology by
both Soviet and Western researchers, but those
applications of NIEMR that have been reported are
distinct from applied telepathy research.
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Psychokinesis
Open literature on Soviet telekinesis research clearly
shows that the publicly known, non-applied Soviet
parapsychologists have a continuing interest in the
telekinetic ability of psychics to move small objects,
such as pencils,' but these studies have little if any
intelligence significance. Applications-oriented US
studies involving the psychokinet~c perturbation of the
output of electronic equipment has indicated that
such effects may be possible_28,The Soviets probably
have conducted similar investigations, although no
evidence indicating this is available. Some of the
reports on Soviet research to affect target individuals
remotely by paranormal means categorized such
research as psychokinesis rather than telepathy All the
classified Soviet work on psychokinesis that has been
reported may all fall into this category (which in this
study has been labeled arbitrarily as telepathic
suggestion instead of psychokinesis)
Hypnosis, Autogenic Training, and Toga
Soviet interest in these areas appears to be centered
primarily on using the relevant aspects of each area for
training subjects either to gain psychic abilities or to
accelerate the development of these abilities 23 Thus,
these are research topics relevant to applied
parapsychological research but are not actually areas
of paranormal research themselves They have become
tightly integrated in the research effort, however, as a
result of the Soviets' multidisciplinary approach to
parapsychology
Black Magic
About 1969 the Soviets reportedly established an
official group in their covert program devoted to
collecten_ g information on black magic. This group,
headed by D G Mirza, was given its own secret
laboratory (M4 in the Appendix) in Moscow and was
assigned the tasks of identifying, locating and
evaluating the capabilities of sorcerers, witches, and
the incantations used by such individuals 23 It is
unlikely that this avenue of investigation has
produced any applied paranormal systems, but the
data collected may have benefited other areas of
research and may have improved their techniques for
training subjects to acquire or to improve paranormal
abilities. Thus, the research may still be included in
the Soviet program
COVERT RESEARCH FACILITIES
Some information is available about the activities,
size, location, personnel, and organization of covert
So. yet parapsychology research facilities,9 za as but
much of it is old (mid to late 1960s) and is second or
third hand Hence, it is not possible to provide a
complete or accurate description of current Soviet
facilities Enough information is available, however,
to indicate strongly that the reported facilities did exist
during the 1960s and that they were continuing to
conduct research into the early 1970s ss as
Of 11 facilities (listed in the Appendix) that
apparently have been or are involved in covert Soviet
parapsychology research, at most five (Al, Bl, M3,
M~, and N1) appear to represent major applied
research centers. Two (Ll and L2) were small (10
people or less), one (M1) was basically an assessment
facility, and another (M4) was dedicated to studying
black magic Of the final two, very little is known
about the actual existence or the size of Rl, and M2
reportedly has been applications oriented but has not
actually conducted classified research,za
yloscow apparently has been the center of the
co.?ert research activity, with the facilities in Baku
(Cape Zykh), Alma Ata, and Novosibirsk probably
conducting collaborative or supporting research.23 The
Ministry of Defense and possibly the KGB appear to
fund portions of the program, with the KGB playing
the dominant role in overseeing and coordinating the
research e
The information available indicates that the most
noteworthy research activities during the 1960s were
those directed by D G. Mirza and S. G. Gellerstein
Their activities, which encompassed a broad range of
applied parapsychological investigations, were
believed to be supported by the Ministry of Defense at
three "research" facilities. These three (M1, M2, and
M3 in the Appendix) formed a functional unit that
allowed people and research projects to be
compartmented into separate levels of classification
and security. Facility M 1 was a small laboratory that
provided a base from which potential employees and
reported psychics could be met and evaluated without
exposing either the extent of the covert program or its
personnel. Serious applied research was not conducted
at this laboratory. M2 was a larger facility than M 1
and was staffed by competent, serious researchers
~?hose activities were monitored by the KGB. The
existence of facility M2 permited serious, but
unclassified, research to be conducted without the
danger of exposing the covert projects to uncleared
6
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personnel and without the necessity of providing
security clearances to a large number of additional
personnel s3
Facility M3, which Has staffed with technicians
and with applications-oriented researchers, served as
the base for covert research activities Both the
research actrv~t~es and the existence of the facility
reportedly were treated as restricted information. The
research data obtained at M2 and the useful talent
obtained from M 1 routinely were made available to
researchers at M3,23 and their activities consequently
could be channeled more efficiently and more directly
-nto productive research activities Furthermore, the
covert status of the institute, combined with the
logistics support and the "political" power provided
b~? the KGB and the 1\linistry of Defense, permitted
the researchers a wide latitude in accomplishing their
research goals
About 1969 the Soviets reportedly established a new
facility (M4 in the Appendix) to investigate black
magic At the same time the activities of facility M3
supposedly were declassified 23 The current status of
M4 is unknown, and its actual exisfence and goals
have not been verified vet It ma~? still be active, but it
is also possible that b~ this time the Soviets have
reestablished the Iy13 activities as part of the covert
program and/or have dropped black magic as a major
subdiscipline of research There also is another
possibilit}~ The same source who was told about the
establishment of M4 had been told previously that
people ~?ho had been exposed to details about the
covert program were "disinformed" prior to their
separation from the program. Since the source was
given the information on the black magic facility
while he was waiting to emigrate_from the USSR, it
also may have been a disinformation attempt.
In addition to Mirza and Gellerstein's program the
famous hypnotist and psychic Wolf Messing
reportedly also was directing a covert research
program in Moscow. His facility, which was believed
to be the only one funded by the KGB, supposedly
investigated clairvoyance and the telepathic
influencing of the behavior and/or physiology of
target individuals. In addition, Messsing's activities
reportedly included a heavy emphasis on the training
of these abilities ss
The two small reported facilities in Leningrad
probably interacted with the covert program only in a
supportive role. But information provided by a Dutch
researcher at a US clinical hypnosis convention
indicated that Leningrad researchers were investigat-
mg clairvoyance in conjunction with hypnosis_33 This
suggests that even if Leningrad researchers do not
constitute a large proportion of the covert Soviet
program, they may be aware, in at least their own
areas of expertise, of some details about the covert
program and of current Soviet research developments
Several of the covert research facilities listed in the
Appendix probably have terminated their parapsycho-
logical activities. Also, the information available on a
few of the facilities is not sufficient to list them with
an.? high degree of confidence as actual participants in
an applied, covert Soviet parapsychology research
program Nonetheless, the data_available strongly
indicate that such a program was initiated around
1960Vand that the research activities in selected areas
of" investigation are continuing. Furthermore, the
information available probably is not sufficient to
provide a complete list of the covert Soviet
parapsychology research facilities active during the
1960s and cannot be expected to identify any facilities
that may have been opened during the 1970s. The
facilities listed in the Appendix, therefore, are only an
approximation of those now active in what is believed
to be a continuing applied research program.
Available information indicates that the Soviets will
continue their attempts to develop the paranormal
abilities of gifted subjects to the point that these
abilities can be used successfully in applied tasks. The
major questions raised by this finding concern the
ways in which the Soviets will attempt to use
paranormal phenomena and their probability of
success
Based on the areas apparently chosen by the Soviets
for applications development and on the results of US
research, the major potential impact of Soviet applied
parapsychology researc is in the area of intelligence
c llection.23 Clairvoyance, particularly in the context
_of _ remote viewing to acquire information about
objects and locations that are inaccessible by other
means, appears to be the prime candidate for applied
use. Telepathic means o agef~n ommunicatio~so
appear tore un ed r'consideration~Inlparticular, the
Soviets may use physiological sensors (perhaps in
combination with a preestablished binary code) in an
attempt to develop a reliable, quantifiable
communications channel.
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The Soviets also may try to develop military; intelli-
gence applications from the telepathy experimenta-
tion In particular, they apparently have attempted to
develop methods for using telepathy to induce
l2ehaviora] and/or physio ogical modifications in
target individuals a s3 a~ as
The black magic experimentation that they
reportedly conducted also appears to have been
military/intelligence oriented,23 and the Soviets still
may hope to achieve useful applications Although no
actual research data are available to help evaluate this
Soviet effort, it is Iudged as highly unlikely that any
useful black magic abilities were uncovered that were
paranormal in nature Nonetheless, significant results
relevant to paranormal research may have been
achieved. For instance, they may have gained
psycho ical and .sociological data useful in dealing
with _ and influencing individuals, groups, and
societies Also, information useful in paranormal
training programs could have been obtained In
particular, the developed training methods may have
made paranormal abilities more consistent (predict-
able), more accurate, or easier (faster) to learn.
Insufficient US data are available to make a
meaningful overall Iudgment at this time. Nonethe-
less, the Soviets probably now g_pssess a large data base
concerning specialized training methods not available
to l~'estern researchers
In addition to the intended paranormal applica-
t~ons, the Soviets have benefited from-and may have
anticipated-research developments related to other
fields of investigation The non-contact Sergeyev
physiological sensor and Kirlian photography are
illustrative of this point Also, Soviet experience with
drugs (such as nitrous oxide) and, to some extent, with
hypnosis raises the possibility that the associated
techniques could be used to develop techniques for
covertly obtaining human intelligence by non-
parapsychological means. This possibility raises
significant counter-intelligence concerns
Success Probability
As was discussed previously, sufficient US research
has not been done to fully evaluate the probabilities of
success of the various areas of applied Soviet
parapsychological research. From the data available,
it appears likely that useful intelligence information
~~~ ca_n be obtained via remote v_iewing,tech~niques,za zs?si'
but the degree~of detail and reliability that can be
obtained are not yet known Apparently it is possible
to .acquire. general information about o~ cations,
objects, and facilities, but it is not known if more
quantitative data, such as written material, can be
obtained reliably through this channel. Recent
preliminary US experimentation does suggest, however,
that data about significant, geographically definable
events can be obtained ~on a real-time basis,zs '
f It also may be possible for the Soviets to develop
(telepathic channels of information transmission. Based
on U.S. data the probability of the successful
development of a fully functional, operational system
is considered to be less than that assigned to remote
viewing "technology." The extensive Soviet work
utilizing information theory, statistical evaluation
techniques, and biomedical, physiological sensors
(such as the Sergeyev detector) believed to have been
devoted to this area of research13 probably has given
the Soviets a sufficient data base to evaluate this
probability fairly accurately. Neither the Soviet data
nor the Soviet conclusions are known.
The potential for using telepathic channels of
information transmission actively to ind_uce_ behavioral
and/or physiological changes in an unwitting,
preselected target cannot be addressed meaningfully
based on currently available US data. Many claims
have been made in the popular press that such effects
are possible, but no documented or well-controlled
laboratory experimentation has been completed.
Again, only the Soviets have what is probably a
sufficient data base to assess meaningfully the
potential applications
It is considered highly unlikely that the Soviets will
be able to develop any operational black magic
systems that are paranormal in nature. However, as
discussed earlier, they may obtain some practical
information and expertise useful in dealing with
psychological or sociological problems. They also may
derive information that could benefit their
paranormal training programs.
Apart from the question of whether paranormal
phenomena themselves can be developed successfully
into meaningful applied tools is whether useful
research developments can be expected from
parapsychological investigations. Viewed from this
perspective, parapsychology research can be
categorized as a highly adaptable, interdisciplinary,
basic research effort capable of producing technologi-
cal and methodological advances significant to other,
sometimes unrelated, fields of research, This
apparently has occurred already in the Soviet
8
-SfeRE~-
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program, as exemplified by Kirlian photography and
the Sergeyev detector.
Kirlian photography, the "exposure" of photographic
plates by placing them in high voltage, alternating
electric fields, usually is included as a subcategory of
parapsychology because the objects placed in the high
voltage field during exposure are outlined by a visual
"aura." Since auras traditionally have been used in
connection with occultish and mystical descriptions,
and because the auras recorded from living objects
reportedly varied depending upon the objects'
emotional and physical state, many unscientific
parapsychologists assumed that Kirlian photography
was producing a visual image of the paranormal
energy fields surrounding the object.
There is no reason to assume anything paranormal
about Kirlian photography. Experimentation in both
the US and the USSR, however, indicates that this
technique may be an excellent biomedical sensor of
several physiological states As such, i may prove oT~e
useful for medical diagnosis and for developing novel
lie detectors or stress (emotion) evaluators.
The Sergeyev detector is a remote physiological
sensor developed by G.A. Sergeyev of the Ukhtomsky
Research Institute, Leningrad State University. This
detector reportedly registers variations in the electrical
(and possibly magnetic) fields surrounding living
organisms.13 These variations are correlated with
various bodily functions such as respiration and the
electrical activity of the heart and nervous system. The
detector apparently has a reasonably short time
constant and even can detect changes occurring in the
range of milliseconds. 13 a' sB
.Recent US thP?~o+c..~~ ^^n~;~P*ations of possible
paranormal information transfer mechanisms have led
to speculations about detectors similar in principle to
the Sergeyev detector. These considerations suggest
that such detectors could be eve ope into remote
physiological monitors and oerhans ev_r, Pn covert, short
range communication systems."
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Classified Soviet Parapsychology Research Facilities
Al Research Institute of Parapsychology
A secret institute. Research includes developing
training programs to teach paranormal abilities These
programs reportedl} utilize yoga, hypnosis, and
autogenic training ~~'ork may also include studies of
black magic and telepathy Facility reportedly has a
military P O Box address. It is also reported to be well
funded and equipped
Baku
BI Navy Psychology Laboratory
Reportl~ located near Baku on Cape Zykh. Work
supposedly includes using telepathic means to affect
remotely the physiology and/or the behavior of target
individuals There is some disagreement among
knowledgable sources about H~hether parapsychology
research ? as actually conducted here If so, it was
highly secret and was funded and controlled by the
navy or the Ministry of Defense
Leningrad
LI ~'asilyev's Former Laboratory
Moscow
M1 Physiology Laboratory of the Psychiatric Institute
of the Soviet Academy of Medical Sciences
Small laboratory used for meeting and evaluating
potential employees and psychics No serious applied
research was conducted here. Reportedly located at
Bolshaya Kommunisticheskaya 13 Telephone number
(1963) Zh-3-O1-02. Associated with facilities M2 and
M3
M2 Institute of Research in Communication
Branch of Institute of Problems of Information
Transmission. Located at Aviomotornaya 8-A,
Building ~2, gate #1. Telephone Number (1963). Zh-
4-04-01 On first floor Research was not officially
secret but was camouflaged. Used for applications-
oriented research that supported M3 Research
included most areas of parapsychology and related
topics such as yoga and autogenic training.
M3 Institute on Vorobyovyye Gon
Highly classified institute directed by D.G. Mirza
until about 1969 Located at Partizanskaya Ulitsa 2 i
Telephone number (1963). G-9-76-35 Occupied
~-entire eight story building. Research included applied
aspects of clairvoyance, telepathy, and yoga. Work
now may be unclassified Probably was controlled and
funded by the military. Employed several hundred
people, most of whom were technicians and electronic
engineers.
M4 Mirza's new laboratory
Secret laboratory reportedly given to Mirza about
1969 to study black magic. Believed to be funded by
the military. Probably was not a large group. Current
status is unknown.
First applied parapsychology lab to be organized in
the USSR (late 19~Os) Located at Kommunisticheska-
ya Naberejonaya i, on the third floor of the Biology-
Geology Building of Leningrad State University.
Gulayev's lab reportedly is on the same floor. Has
probably ceased to operate since Vasilyev's death.
Employed only about 10 people
L2 Special laboratory with the Navy School of
Electronics (Popov)
G.A Sergeyev reportedly is chief. Started about
1968 and employs about 10 people, most of whom are
engineers Lab probably is concerned primarily with
developing biomedical instrumentation to analyze
biological signals statistically. Parapsychology work
probably is only part time.
MS Messing's secret laboratory
Little information available. Reportedly trains
people in clairvoyance and telepathic suggestion.
Probably is funded by the KGB.
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lion and drugs. Believed to be funded by the Ministry
of Defense Reportedly ~?orks closely with R1.
NI Section ~8 of the Institute of Automatics and
Electrometry
Highly classified laboratory created in 1965. Vitaly
Pavlovich Perov was appointed director. Reportedly
had about 150 scientific employees plus a technical
staff Reportedly works on clairvoyance, psychokine-
sis, and paranormal training programs and on the
amplification of telepathic abilities by instrumenta-
RI Rostov laboratory
Reportedly works intensively on clairvoyance and
hypnosis in collaboration with N1. No other
information available.
12
~EER~E~~
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REFERENCES
The source references supporting this paper are identified in a list pub-
lished separately Copies of the list are available to authorized personnel
and may be obtained from the originating office through regular channels.
Requests for the list of references should include the publication number
and date