SOVIET JEWISH DISSIDENTS SAY K.G.B. DUPED THE C.I.A.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R000600230089-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 21, 2004
• Sequence Number: 89
• Publication Date: March 9, 1978
• Content Type: NSPR

SD*dal to The New York Times
MOSCOW, March 8-Jewish dissidents
voiced the belief today that the Central
Intelligence Agency had been trick edby
the Soviet security police, the K.G..B, into
enlisting a doctor who was close to
Anatoly Shcharansky, the Jewish activist.
They said the effort was mad eso that
the doctor could then use his credentials
as an "American agent" to accuse Mr.
Shcharansky and others in the human
rights movement of espionage.
Intelligence sources in Washington
confirmed yesterday that the doctor,
L. Llpavsky,had worked for the
at his own request for under a
DATE:.
Soviet Jewish Dissidents Say K. G. B. Duped the C.I.A.
worked for the C.I.A.
Several dissidents said they thought
the President should have conceded then
that Dr. Lipavsky had C.I.A. connections.
Mr. Shcharansky, a 30-year-old electron-
ics engineer, had been arrested March
15 after the Government newspaper Iz-
vestia published a letter signed by Dr.
Lipavsky accusing several Jews of pass-
ing secrets to American diplomats. The
doctor, himself a Jew, wrote that he had
done C.I.A. work, but was ashamed and
bitter about it.
"If Carter had said that Lipavsky
worked for the C.I.A., it would have made
it better for Tolya," said Vladimir Slepak,
a prominent activist, using Mr. Shcha-
ransky's nickname. "If Carter wanted to
make things better for Tolya, this will
just make things worse," said Mariya
Slepak, his wife.
sidents said they thought he had been
a K.G.B agent all the time ,sent to the
C.I.A. to establish a cover.
In suggesting that the agency might
have been duped, the dissident srecalled
that Dr. Lipavsky hadworked as a medi-
cal examiner for a drivers' license bureau
and appeared to be in a poor position
to offer information about the closed cir-
cle of Soviet science.
"It means that the C.I.A. officials are
not so clever," said Naum S. Meiman,
a mathematics professor and member of
the self-styled committee monitoring
Soviet compliance with the rights provi-
sions of the 1975 Helsinki accords.
The sources In Washington said Dr.
Lipavsky had approached American dip-
lomats offering to supply information on
the scientific community. The offer trig-
gered a debate in American intelligence
over whether he might be an agent pro-
vocateur. The C.I.A. used him for a while,
the sources said, then dropped him as
having little value.
The incident has raised serious ques-
tions among Soviet dissidents. One is the
degree to which the C.I.A. feels free to
engage them in intelligence work, a prac-
tice that many feel could taint their
struggle for human rights and free emi-
gration.
Another question is why the C.I.A.
thought Dr. Lipavsky could provide use-
ful information. Wesern reporters who
met him found him a pleasant fellow with
a nice smile, but given to such extreme
The Shcharansky case, expected to
come to trial soon, may result in a Sovi-
et-American confrontation. President Car-
ter, who appearedtobetaking Soviet
dissidents under his wing in the early
imonths of his Administration,hassaid
t hat the conviction of Mr. Shcharansky
on treason charges would hurt relations
with the United States.
Professor Meiman and others were
critical of both the C.I.A. and the Presi-
dent, who reportedly knew of Dr . Li-
pavsky's involvement but made no men-
tion of it during a defense of Mr. Shcha-
ransky last June 13. At that time Mr.
Carter said he was "completely con-
vinced" that Mr. Shcharansky had never
tales about the evils of Soviet life that
he was often usbelievable.
"He tried too hard to show how strong-
ly againstt the regime he was," said
Professor Meiman. And Mrs. Slepak noted
that in view of his job in the drivers'
license bureau, he was hardly qualified
to provide information on science.
"If you are a dissident," she said,
"where are you goisg to get scientific
information? You've already been dis-
missed from your job."
As for his C.I.A. connection, dissidents
say the fact that he is not in jal proves
that he had been a plant.
"How does it happen," Mrs. Slepak said
with an ironc smile, "that real spy
wlks arousd free and is not being
charged? How is that possible? They
bring charges not aginst a real py, but
gainst an innocent man."
 .41 _M~`'ARTICLE kFEnr roved For Release120D41t KND8Yi -RCP8AM00980R000600230089-4
ON PAGE_ 9 March 1978
Soviet "Jewish Dissidents Say K.G.B. Duped the C. L
.~
Special to The New York Threes
MOSCOW, March 8-Jewish dissidents
voiced the belief today that the Central
Intelligence Agency had been trick edby
the Soviet security police, the K.G.B. into
enlisting a doctor who was close to
Anatoly Shcharansky, the Jewish activist
They said the effort was mad eso that
the doctor could then use his credentials
as an "American agent" to accuse Mr.
Shcharansky -and others in the human
rights movement of espionage.
Intelligence sources inWashington
confirmed yesterday that the doctor,
Sanya L. Lipavsky,had worked for the
C.I.A. at. his own request for under a
year in 1975-78,_ supplying._information
about the Soviet science community. Dis-
sidents said they thought he had -been
a K.G.B agent - all the time sent to. the
C.1-A. to establish a cover. .
In suggesting that the. agency might
have been duped, the dissident srecalle
that Dr. Lipavsky hadworked as a medi
cal examiner for a drivers' license bureau
and appeared to be in a poor position
to offer information about the closed cir-
cle of Soviet science. .
"It means-that-the C.I.A.-officials are
not so clever," said Naum- S._ Meimall,
a mathematics professor and member of
the self-styled committee monitoring
Soviet compliance with the rights provi-
sions of the 1975 Helsinki accords.:
The Shcharansky case, expected to
come to trial soon, may. result in a Sovi.
et-American confrontation. President Car-
ter,. who appearedtobetaking Soviet
dissidents under his wing in the early
months of his Administration,hassai
.t hat the conviction of Mr. ShcharanskY
on treason- charges would hurt relations
with the United States..
Professor Melman and others 'were
:critical of both the C.I.A. and the Presi-
dent, who reportedly knew. of Dr . Li
pavsky's involvement but made no men
tion of it during a defense of Mr. Shcha
ransky last June :.13. At that time, Mr
carter said.-. he was "completely = con
vinced" ? that Mr. , Shcharansky;,had never
worked for the C.I.A.
Several dissidents said -they thought
the President, should have conceded then;
that Dr. Lipavsky had C.I.A. connections.
Mr. Shcharansky, a 30-year-old electron-.
' ics engineer, had been arrested March
15 after the Government newspaper Iz-
vestia published a letter signed by Dr.
Lipavsky accusing several Jews of pass-
ing secrets to American diplomats. The
doctor, himself a Jew, wrote that he had
done C.I.A. work, but was ashamed and
bitter about it
"If Carter had said that Lipavsky
worked for the C.I.A., it would have made
it better for Tolya," said Vladimir Slepak,
a prominent activist, using Mr. Shcha-
ransky's nickname. "If Carter wanted to-
'make things better for Tolya, this will
just make things worse," said Mariya
Slepak. his wife___
The sources In- Washington said Dr.
Lipavsky had approached Americandip-
lomats offering to supply information on
the scientific community. The offer trig-
gered a debate in American intelligence
,over whether he might be an agent pro-
vocateur. The C.I.A. used him for a while,.,
the sources said, then dropped him asf
having little value.
The incident has raised serious ques-
tion~ among Soviet dissidents. One is the
degree to which the C.I.A. feels free to
engage them in intelligence work, a prac-i
tice that many feel could taint their
struggle for human rights and free emi-
gratios.-
Another question Is why the C.I.A.
thought Dr. Lipavsky could provide use-
ful . information. Wesern reporters who
I met him found him a pleasant fellow with)
[a nice smile... but given to such extreme
tales about the evils of Soviet life.tha
he was often usbelievable. . .
"He tried too hard to show how strong
ly againstt the regime he was," said
Professor Meiman. And Mrs. Slepak noted
that in view"of his job in the drivers'.:
license bureau, he was hardly qualified
to provide information on science. 7. .1
"If you are a dissident," she said;
"where are you goisg to get scientifi
information? You've already ' been dis+
missed from your job."
As for his?C.I.A_ connection, dissidents:
say the fact that he is not in jal proves
that he had been a plant -
"How does it. happen,'.' Mrs. Slepak said
with an iron smile, "that 'real spy
wlks arousd . free, and' is not, being
charged? 'How is=that -possible? -Th
bring charges not aginst a real py, but:
gainst an innocent man."..,
Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R000600230089-4