Francesco/who-killed-jfk huggingface dataset:
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319. G. NOSENKO's KGB Promotions and Awards## 1. RankNOSENKO has been questioned at length concerning his progress through the KGB ranks, from lieutenant to lieutenant colonel. He has volunteered additional information on this subject himself. His various statements follow in chronological order.11 June 1962: "As a Chief of Section, I now receive 2,500 rubles per month), plus 700 for my rank, for major, plus pay for longevity. I receive more than 4000, i.e., 450-470-480 (rubles per month) in new money. This is enough for me...I am now a major but I should receive lieutenant colonel soon. I have already completed my time in grade. We have a system of time in grade. From major to lieutenant colonel it is necessary to have four years... My time in grade was up in December, in December of last year [1961]."23 January 1964: At the first of his 1964 meetings with CIA in Geneva NOSENKO had in his possession the temporary duty authorization which he said he had been issued in December 1963 to travel from Moscow to Gorkiy Oblast in connection with the search for CHEREPANOV.* This official KGB paper had been signed by O.M. GRIBANOV, Chief of the Second Chief Directorate, and authorized "Lieutenant Colonel Yuriy Ivanovich NOSENKO to visit the local KGB organization in Gorkiy Oblast on official business between 15 and 30 December 1963." It bore official stamps of arrival and departure in December 1963, as attested by officials in the town of Shakhunya.10 February 1964: In Frankfurt, while awaiting exfiltration to the United States, NOSENKO was asked to review a biographic statement which had been prepared by his case officers on the basis of statements he had made during the 1962 and 1964 meetings in Geneva. NOSENKO went over the biography carefully, noted several changes, and then stated that it was correct. The biography included the information that NOSENKO had served in the U.S. Embassy Section of the American Department as a senior lieutenant from 1952 [sic] to 1955, that he was promoted to captain in 1956, to major in 1959, and to lieutenant colonel in November 1963, shortly before leaving Moscow for Geneva.8 April 1964: NOSENKO was questioned about the date when he became a senior lieutenant, and he replied: "I think in the end of '53 or the beginning of '54 I got the senior lieutenant."Question: That's less than a year after you entered the service [KGB].*See Part VI.D.7.c. for a description of this search and of NOSENKO's claimed part in it.
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# 320.NOSENKO: Well, I had the GRU service. That counts two years, as military service, of course. it was considered as a continuance of military service.Question: So you got it when? At the end of 1953?NOSENKO: At the end of '53 or beginning of '54. Then I got captain in 1956.Question: When in 1956?NOSENKO: I don't remember. You see, they are not given exactly in February or in March. Sometimes the scheduled time passes before they give it. So, '56--Captain, '59--Major, and '63--...16 June 1964: Asked to list in chronological order the date of his promotions within the KGB from the date of entry, NOSENKO stated: "I began in the GRU as a junior lieutenant. While in the GRH I became a lieutenant, and I entered the KGB with this rank in 1953. Not long after I entered the KGB I became a senior lieutenant, but I don't know the month. It was still 1953. In 1956 I was promoted to the rank of captain. I don't know the month. I became a major in 1959. I don't know the month. In October 1963 I wa made a lieutenant colonel.... Personnel called me on the telephone and said I had been promoted. Later I was told that GRIBANOV wanted to see me. I went to his office, but, of course, I didn't let him know that I already knew that I had been promoted. He gave me his congratulations. You never see the attestation. It goes into your official file."26 January 1965: While discussing his role as case officer for U.S. Embassy Security Officer John ABIDIAN, NOSENKO volunteered out of context that he had never officially been a major. He explained this situation as follows: Having been promoted to the rank of senior lieutenant in April 1953, he became eligible for the rank of captain in 1956. When this time came, however, he was not promoted because a senior KGB official held against him his illegal use of KGB documents to cover treatment for gonorrhea in 1954. NOSENKO therefore remained a senior lieutenant until 1959, when he would have been eligible for promotion to the rank of major had he received his captaincy on schedule. Although GRIBANOV had promised NO- SENKO that he would be promoted directly from senior lieu- tenant to major, skipping the rank of captain, an admini- strative error was made by the KGB Personnel Office, and NOSENKO found when the orders were issued that he had in- stead been promoted only to captain. Instead of rectifying this mistake, GRIBANOV persuaded NOSENKO that it would be to his advantage to remain a captain until he became eligible for promotion to lieutenant colonel in 1963. NOSENKO therefore was a captain from September or October 1959 until October 1963 when, as promised by GRIBANOV, he was promoted![image of top secret marking]
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321. directly to the rank of lieutenant colonel. In this manner it turned out that he never officially held the rank of major.*10 August 1965: Under questioning by DERYABIN, NOSENKO repeated the chronology of his promotions given an 26 January 1965. He again explained that he was put up for captain in 1956, but this time said that the promotion had been blocked on the grounds that he should be made to wait because of shortcomings in his work. Asked why he had told CIA that he had been a major during the 1962 meetings and again in the biography prepared in Frankfurt, NOSENKO replied that he thought the true story would not be believed.17 April 1966: In a voluntary statement, NOSENKO wrote the following: "In March 1951, with the rank of junior lieutenant, I started service in Naval Intelligence of the Seventh Fleet in Sovetskaya Gavan.... From August 1952 until 1953, 1 worked at the intelligence base of the Naval Intelligence of the Fourth Fleet in Sovetsk, where I received the rank of lieutenant of the Administrative Service.... In 1950 I received the rank of senior licutenant ( in the KGB), in December 1959 the_rank of captain, and at the end of 1963 I was recommended for the rank of major. I have never held the rank of lieuten_ ant colonel and the travel crder which you know of, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, was filled out erroneously.**19 April 1966: In a new version of his autobiography, NOSENKO included the following statement: "in July 1956 I became a candidate member of the CPSU, soon after which I received a promotion at work: I became a senior case officer and was given the rank of senior licutenant. In August 1957 I was accepted into the CPSU, and during the second half of 1958 was appointed Deputy Chief of the Second Section, Seventh Department. On 29 December 1959 I was promoted to the rank of captain.26 October 1966: "I lied when I said I was a lieutenant colonel in 1954. I was only a captain." Asked why he had said in 1962 that he was then a major, NOSENKO replied: "There was no conversation about rank in 1962. About my position, I said I was in the Tourist Department. That's all."To summarize what NOSENKO has said about his ranks while serving in the KGB: He became a senior lieutenant in 1952, April 1953, 1954, or 1956; a captain in 1956 or September/October/December 1959: a major in December 1958 or 1959; and a lieutenant colonel in October/November 1963. (The latter claim was verified by the official KGB document listing him as a lieutenant colonel as of December 1963.) On the other hand, NOSENKO has indicated that his highest rank in the KGB was captain, and that he never advanced to a majority or a lieutenant colonelcy.*At about this time, in early 1965,NOSENKO was only a captain and had advanced to his senior KGB position, because of his close relationship with GRIBANOV.shortly after NOSENKO's defection, reported having received information from fellow KGB officers which made it "appear quite certain" that NOSENKO was a lieutenant colonel.**See above; NOSENKO was referring to the TDY authorization Issued for the CHEREPANOV search in December 1963.
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## 2. Awards and DecorationsNot long after reestablishing contact with CIA in January 1964, NOSENKO mentioned that he had received the Order of Lenin "shortly after the 1962 meetings" in Geneva as a reward for the ideas which he had developed to "enlarge the experience and improve the quality" of KGB Second Chief Directorate staff personnel in Moscow.* During the first series of interrogations, NOSENKO on 6 April 1964 claimed that he was awarded the Order of Lenin in 1963 for his work in the Tourist Department, KGB Second Chief Directorate, after receiving the Order of the Red Banner in 1962 for his performances while in the American Department.The following discussion of the subject took place on 6 April 1964:**NOSENKO:** Yes, I received a big gold medal.**Question:** It was the Order of Lenin?**NOSENKO:** It was at first the Order of the Red Ranner--the Red Star, I mean. In '63 I received the Order of Lenin. In '63.**Question:** What for?**NOSENKO:** GRIBANOV decided that whoever is working a long period in the Second Chief Directorate--[V.D.) CHELNOKOV got one, (A.G.) KOVALENKO got one--many, many [received the Order of Lenin].****Question:** You received the Order of Lenin for this brilliant service?**NOSENKO:** No. For working in the Seventh (Tourist) Department, which is considered good.**Question:** What is good? Were there recruitments? What recruitments?**NOSENKO:** You must know that the main task of the Seventh Department is not recruitments. The main task is countering the intelligence activities of the opposition.**Question:** So, the Chief and the Deputy Chief of the Seventh Department got the Order of Lenin?**NOSENKO:** Yes.*NOSENKO has described the Order of Lenin as the highest decoration for which a KGB officer can be eligible.**In June 1964 NOSENKO said that the only Second Chief Directorate officer whom he knew to have received this award was V.A. CHURANOV, Chief of the British Embassy Section, who re-cruited William John VASSALL (see PART VI.D.5.b.). On the same general topic, NOSENKO asked his CIA case officer whether he, the CIA officer, had received a medal for his part in the 1962 meetings with NOSENKO. He asked this in January 1964 in Geneva.
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# 323.Question: CHELNOKOV and KOVALENKO?NOSENKO: Yes. And CHURANOV got and I got and-who else?[S.M.] FEDOSEYEV got and [T.M.] KOVSHUK also gotthe Order, the second time. The first time hegot it several years ago, and this was the secondtime.Question: When did you get the Order of the Red Star?NOSENKO: Red Star I got--I don't know for what.Question: But then one year later they gave you anotherone, because this [order of the Red Star] wasn'tenough?NOSENKO: Because the awards are given out--now, wait onemoment; up until 1961, if there were any awardsfor the Chekists [KGB personnel] it was very rare,and they were only awarded for a specific thing.Such as CHURANOV, for instance. He was rewardedfor a specific deed [the recruitment of VASSALL].But in 1962, 1963--these first years--whether itwas the idea of the Party to encourage theworkers, they decided to let SAKHAROVSKIY [Chiefof the KGB First Chief Directorate] declare hismedals and GRIBANOV to declare his medals. Theyget together with their deputies and decide towhom they will give them. They don't say towhom--they say, for instance: 'One order to yourdepartment; you decide who should have it.'Like that. Then we would get together, ICHELKOKOV, KOVALENKO, and we decided [who wouldget one]. In our department. [V.I.] YAKOVLEVgot a medal. Who else got a medal? In 1962, Igot one, and then LEONOV who was Chief of theSecond Section got the Order of the Red Star.We decided on these individuals. As far as weourselves were concerned. That decision was madeby GRIBANOV and his deputy.Question: Did the Seventh Department catch any spies?NOSENKO: Well, as I have already told you, there was thisItalian fellow. This was considered agood case because the First Department later--the Seventh Department was only involved at thetime of the arrest--began meeting with him.Question: So you got the Order [of the Red Banner] in 1962because of your work in the Tourist Department?NOSENKO: I think in 1962 GRIBANOV gave it to me not forthe Seventh Department, but for my work in theFirst [American] Department in 1960, 1961.Question: You think so?NOSENKO: I think so.Question: The Order just came, without any explanation?TOP SECRET
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# NOSENKO: It was just done at the order of the Chairnar.Question: And the Order of Lenin was the sera?NOSENKO: The same. Well, the way it says, "For work well done for the organs of the KGB" there is no indication exactly what it is for.NOSENKO admitted on 8 April 1964: "In 1964 [in Geneval I told a lie about the Order of Lenin, Why? It was a boast." NOSENKO then explained what he said to be the true circumstances and gave the reason for which he was to have received this decoration. GRIBANOV, NOSENKO stated, had promised in 1983 that NOSENKO, CHELNOKOV, and KOVALENKO would get the Order of Lenin: "He said: 'I an submitting your names for the Order of Lenin for creating the T80p8 [Central Operational Communications System of the Socond Chief Directorate], for this new thing you have tried to create in tourist work.' But December (1963) had gone by. I left (for Geneva) and nothing happoned."NOSENKO WAG asked on 15 April 1964 to list the dates, reasons, and types of awards, decorations, and bonuses he had received during his KGB career, as well as to indicate from whom he had received each of these. Kis reply vas as follows: "I received nothing in 1953, 1954, and 1955, In 1956 I received a commendation and one month's pay. SEROV, the Chairman of the KGB, awarded ne this for the recruitment of Richard PURGI (see Part V.D.4.b.) while I was working in the Seventh (Tourist) Department of the Second Chief Directorate. It was signed by the Chairman, and GRIBANOV told me about it. As usual, this Order of the Chairman of the KGB was circulated, and I and all case officers saw my name listed. There is no certificate or anything. Personnel just makes a note in your official file that on a certain date you received the commendation from the Chairman of the KGB."From 1956 on, I received something almost every year, but it was nothing special. Perhaps it was the KGB anniver-sary or May Day or Army Day. In 1957 or 1958, I got some thing from GRIBANOV. Maybe it was the 40th anniversary of the Soviet Army. I don't remember. It was given to me and a group of people in the hall (auditorium) between the third and fourth floors (of the KGB Headquarters building). PER-FILYEV, Deputy Chief of the Second Chief Directorate, aade the presentation."In 1959 I received a commendation and one month's pay from SHELEPIN, Chairman of the KGB, for several re-cruitments, among them the professor from Tennessee (MERTENE), DREW, FRIPPEL, and three British people. There were six in*NOSENKO later reverted to his original statenent, which related the award to his efforts to "inspire" the work of the Tourist Department.
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325. all; three Americans and three British. I can't remember the British names just now. *"In 1960 I got a commendation from GRIBANOV for good work in general. A lot of officers got this. In 1961 I received the Order of the Red Star. With a group of case officers I got this for general good work in the Second Chief Directorate. KOVALENKO and KOVSHUK got this too. IVASHUTIN gave it to me (made the presentation). Personnel makes a note in your official file, but you can take the medal and the little certificate that goes with it and either keep it at home or in your study room (office).**"In 1962 I got a commendation from GRIBANOV for general good work. I also received the Unblemished Service Award for ten years' service. They counted this from October 1950, when I joined the GRU, and they were late by two years in giving it to me. This is not unusual. SHCHERBAK, Deputy Chief of the Second Chief Directorate, gave it to me in the* See Parts V.D.4.1.and h., Part V.D.5., and Parts V.2.4.1., j., and k., respectively, for descriptions of these recruit- ment operations and NOSENKO's role in them. NOSENKO also said during interrogation by DERYABIN on 10 August 1965 that, in 1959, his name was submitted for the Order of the Red Banner in connection with these recruitments, but that he did not get it, probably because he was transferred to the First Department at that time (January 1950), NOSENKO has described the Order of the Red Banner as the third highest award a KGB officer may receive. Asked what KGB officers had received this award, NOSENKO said on 10 June 1964 that GRIBANOV, SAKHAROVSKIY, and several other high- ranking KGB officers were awarded it for the important role they played in smashing the Hungarian Revolution in 1956.** On 15 April 1964 NOSENKO had said that he received the Order of the Red Star, along with a group of other Second Chief Directorate officers, at the end of December 1962. He recalled this because they were planning the presenta- tion for the anniversary of the KGB on 20 December, but the presentation was delayed and was not made until the end of the month. NOSENKO and about 70 other officers of the Second Chief Directorate, including KOVSHUK and G.I. GRYAZNOV, received the award "simply for achievements, for good results in work." NOSENKO told DERYABIN in August 1965 that the order accompanying his award had read: "For ex- ceptional performance of mission." When asked what mission was involved, NOSENKO replied that the award was just for good work in general.TOP SECRET
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TOP SECRET326. hall along with a certificate.* In 1963 I received acommendation from GRIBANOV for general good work. Also,GRIBANOV told me that I, along with some others, was toreceive the Order of Lenin on 20 December 1963, the KGBanniversary date, but I left for Geneva.**I was to re-ceive it for arousing [inspiring] the Seventh Department."NOSENKO said on 26 October 1966 that he never re-ceived any KGB award or decoration for his operationalwork. The only awards he received during his KGB career,he said, were a Red Army anniversary medal and the awardfor satisfactory completion of ten years of service.*NOSENKO's wording here reflects earlier intensive ques-tioning concerning the ten-year service medal. NOSENKO saidon 15 April 1964: "In 1962 I had ten years of service inthe KGB and got a medal for unblemished service. It isusually given for ten years and to KGB men only....That wasin 1962. I had ten years of service then." When it waspointed out that, according to his most recent statement,he had joined the KGB in March 1953 and therefore wouldhave had only nine years of service in 1962, NOSENKO said hedid not understand why but that he was certain that he hadbeen given the medal after his return from Geneva in 1962.(The 1962 date is consistent with NOSENKO's earlier statementsthat he joined the KGB in 1952.) The following day, 17 April1964, NOSENKO said that he remembered why he had receivedthe medal in 1962 rather than 1963; this medal, he recalled,is awarded to servicemen as well as KGB officers, and priormilitary service is taken into account in computing theservice time for the latter. NOSENKO had entered the GRUin 1950 and therefore should have received the ten-yearmedal in 1960. Because of a mix-up in the KGB PersonnelDepartment he did not receive it until 1962.**NOSENKO arrived in Geneva on 19 January 1964TOP SECRET
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# H. NOSENKO's Relationship with GRIBANOV1. Information from NOSENKOa. SummaryFrom the time of his first meetings with CIA in 1962, NOSENKO maintained that he had a close personal and professional relationship with Major General O.M. GRIBANOV, Chief of the Second Chief Directorate. NOSENKO has described recruitment approaches in which he and GRIBANOV took part together, conversations they had on operational matters, the role which GRIBANOV played in his rank promotions and receipt of various awards, and his afterhours carousing with GRIBANOV and First Chief Directorate counterinteiligence officer Ye.A. TARABRIN. NOSENKO has also frequently mentioned the role which GRIBANOV played in his, NOSENKO's, professional advancement within the KGB: GRIBANOV was wholly responsible, against NOSENKO's wishes, for his appointment to the position of Deputy Chief of the U.S. Embassy Section of the American Department in January 1960; later, when NOSENKO rejected his offer to make him Deputy Chief of the entire American Department, GRIBANOV arranged his return to the Tourist Department as Chief of the American Tourist Sectior. and his later appointment as Deputy Chief of the Tourist Department.NOSENKO's remarks concerning his direct involvement with GRIBANOV in operations against Americans are included in other parts of this paper. Among them are his early statements on the approach to code clerk James STORSBERG (Part V.E.3.c.), his 1962 account of the arrest and attempt to recruit CIA officer Russell LANGELLE (Part VI.D.7.a.), and his early reports on the attempt to recruit CIA officer Edward Ellis SMITH (Part VI.D.2.). In all three cases NOSENKO subsequently denied having played the role he originally attributed to himself and denied having had personal contact with the Americans involved. NOSENKO has also altered his original accounts to say that he received no awards or decoration for operational activity and that he had not received the promotions he claimed.b. DetailsThe statements of NOSENKO given below concern primarily his personal relationship with GRIBANOV and how GRIBANOV assisted his rapid rise within the organization of the Second Chief Directorate.12 June 1962: "Oleg Mikhaylovich GRIBANOV is a great guy. A real pal. We, so to say, used to meet one another illegally and had women together... GRIBANOV wrote a fitness report on me. It was the very best that can be given, brilliant. GRIBANOV wrote the very best fitness report on me. He had an excellent regard for me, excellent... I am supposed to become Deputy Chief of [the Tourist) Department. I believe that GRIBANOV is promoting young people, new people, who already have experience, good experience, who have made recruitments. I know two or three (of the people he is moving ahead). I personally have about 12 recruitments, four or five of them were British and the rest Americans. He [GRIBANOV] has his eye on me in particular, and the question of my advancement is right now under consideration... I will be Deputy Chief of Department. You must give thought to the