14-00000 _tors. Forcible repatriation of political refugees is SECRET es this implied, it was apparent that pgrest practical problems stood in the way of his deportation to either the USSR or a third country. USSR: Nosenko has categorically stated on numerous ' occasions that. he will never contemplate return to the USSR, and, although we suspect that-he might secretly welcome such | a move, we would expect him to act out his part to the end with loud protests that he wus being shipped to his death, etc. When the possibility of expulsion was discussed with Department of State officials in 1964, both the Secretary of State and Ambassador Thompson expressed their concern for the adverse effect this might have on other potential defec- against | long established U.S. policy, and would be certain to arouse violent reaction from ethnic minority groups in the United States. Under these circumstances an alleged "confession" by Nosenko would have come under very close scrutiny, and might have backfired very badly. Another point thaz had to be considered was the possibility that the Sovicts, again playing their part, might have refused to accept Nosenko on the grounds that he has renounced his Sovict citizenship. ‘Third Country: Although we belleved it likely that Nosenko would accede to deportation to a third country, 14 SEChET
14-00000 SECRET oa . aes, there is certainly no country in the free world on which we could conceivably have untoaded Nosenko without first informe ing them of his true status. Even if we considered this a desirable objective, it seemed certain that the. Department of State would veto such a a piece of intergovernmental duplic- 18 SECRET
ereel es OE Tie Yurily Ivanovich NOSENKO NOSENKO is a Soviet intelligence officer who defected ina Switzerland in 1964. He was subsequently brought to the U.s., and after 4 short period of relative freedom, he was confined under strict and relatively austere conditions for a period of approximately three years. Commencing in 1967, he was viven increasing: amounts of freedom until he was allowed terval freedom in 1969. - He subsequently married - a U.S. citizen, wettled in the Southeastern United States and became a U.S. -{tizen in 1974. tle 15 presently under contract to the Ageno¥s providing consultative services and information on sub,iects germane to his background. NOSENKO was confined %hen as a result of his debriefing substantive questions were ru-wsed concerning his bona fides, and his general behavior raised=./urther concern about his ; emotional health and generai safet,y* NOSENKO'S debriefing and confinement were ended when it as concluded that ne was not a threat to national security. ~phe advice oonfine- ‘Justice Department was obtained at the tine Otis. tafing. ment, and the Ful participated in his subsequent debrae ee -NOSENKO’s initial entry into the U.S. was coordinated wits . ; ] the Department of State, and they were periodically advised y of his status during his confinement up to the time of his : final settlement. ; , le The strict conditions of NOSENKO's confinement were intended to convey, t9 him the scriousness of his position as a suspected disinformation agent und to make clear to him that his free settlement in the U.S. was preciuded as long as this issue was unresolved. It was understood, however, that at any time he could have elected to end his cenfine- ment and return to the Soviet Union. OS files do not document that this latter condition was explicitly conveyed to NOSENKO, however, it is the recollection of senior staff officers (ADD/O and D/OS) that such was the case, and further that it was a condition routinely applied to other defectors whose bona fides were in doubt. 3 \ a “i bob ‘
MEMORANDUM FOR: General Counsel SUBJECT ' : Nosenko- Attached is a report from the Office of Security concerning the awares nesa of other Federal, authorities (USIB, State, FBI, and 1I&NS), We have- been advieed by APD/O that Nosenko at all times was advised that he could ~" elect to leave the U. S., but that he could not be ensured of immediate liberty if he elected to stay; ina sense, we are told, he elected to stay under the conditions then prevailing, We do not yet have documentation on thie. ‘latter point, other than as ghewn In the attachment, spe? ie Ss, 0D, Breckinridge Attachment: a/s ere t Ons. ve | au