JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM Date: 02/14/05 AGENCY RECORD NUMBER RECORD SERIES AGENCY FILE NUMBER AGENCY ORIGINATOR FROM TO TITLE DATE PAGES SUBJECTS DOCUMENT TYPE CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTIONS CURRENT STATUS DATE OF LAST REVIEW COMMENTS AGENCY INFORMATION CIA 104-10437-10056 JFK RUSS HOLMES WORK FILE DOCUMENT INFORMATION CIA DIRECTOR OF SECURITY HEADQUARTERS WITHHELD 03/11/1964 7 BIOGRAPHY PAPER SECRET 1A Released under the John Kennedy Wesassination Records ollection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Note). ase#: NW 53320 Date: He—24-2017 RELEASED IN PART PUBLIC - RELEASED WITH DELETIONS 11/20/98 JFK-RHO5 F108-5 1998.11.20.10:30:07:966129 DETAILS INFO REC'D FROM PROMINENT KGB DEFECTOR [R] - ITEM IS RESTRICTED HW 53320 Docld:32395229 Page 1 104-10437-10056
. . rict Field Office 11 March 1964 MEMORALDUM FOR: Headquarters i | _ i t SUBJECT : LEGNIK, Geouge M. (A) / 262 622 c sp/1 1. Reference Is made to Veadsuarters Letter ot assignment in this cace dated hthveh 196). 2. During the period 20-28 Pelaucury 1064, while SUBIECL wis under the protective custedy of Special Agents Stanley C. LACH, Ceorge R. BREWER and Alfred B. McGARRAGIIY, SUPJECT voluntarily. furnished information concerning his background and activitics, | ‘as well as other information of operational interest, the substance of vhich is cet forth in the succeeding paragraphs. Tt is to be _ “noted-that at..no.time didany.of the. abpve-named agents solicit. 0.02" -- ++ any of this inforrvtion er mike. inquiries of the SUPJLCT regarding, ° - oe any of the matters discussed by him. SUPIECT spoutancously related these incidents in casual conversation during leisure periods ond while enroute with the agents to and from placcs of entertainment ete. Tn most cases newspapers, magazines and TV programs prompted the SUBJECT to make contents relutive to these matters. Following is a swmarization of this Informtion: SPORTS, HOBBIES (a) On 20 February 10Gh SUPJECT disclosed that he enjoys ‘the folloving cporta: football, hockey and billiards. WORMICH TRAVEL | ne Oy grunt aT He | . (b) Me alco revealed that he hag previously lcon in the, United States while enroute to Cuba, Venevurla and other Latin American courtyies. We has ct one tine or another during his cervice vith the KGB visited end worlicd on operational projects for the Soviet Union in practically all of the countries of Murope; howavar, he hes never 20 Docld: 32395229 Page 200 gs a
TESHIK, George M. (A) je62 622 ¢C S&D/1 traveled to the Far Engst, except while handling on xgent who ws active against the Japanese. Ne (SUPRILUCE) stayed fa the Kurile Islands which are within sicht of Japan. This vas in 1929. Me said that he wae active in the picking up of agents by plane and chip in this areca. : ' FAMLLY BACKGROUND -(c) In the latter part of the evening on this came date, 20 “February 1964, tho SUBJECT stated that his father vas a menber: of the Comuniet Central Comittee, one of the first meshers of | the Communist Party, and that be had great respect for hia father. The CULJECT also indicated that his fovher vas a shipbuilder and later became one of the firct to organize and set uy the Russian | - Atboule Energy Plant. It was during th's latter activity that he (the SUBJECT's father) end three other offielals eae in contact with radiation, which affected his father's liver and a few years Jater ot the age of 54 his fotuer died of cancer. The CURIFCT vents on to etate thet his father, being a very proatnent Comxmist, was given treatment for this cancer in a epeeial hospital which is ; ‘located in the hills outside of the city of Moscow, and during his | => - tenure in this hospital the farntly revided with his father. They had five reom living quarters beside the room in which nis father was confined. This privilerce, he unid, is only given to the especially prominent VIPs of the Cormmnist Party, indicating that his father was oue of the top men in the Communist Party. (a) The SURTECE revealed that 4n 1949, at the are of ‘16, he ws - a Naval Cadet. He was called into the service before gr aduating frou vhat is ovr equivalent of a high school. Jie Tad taken part in the Lighting in the Black Sea Arca vhere he deseribed hend-to-hand combat with Germans, elatmed he was wounded, and because of his bravery he wad avarded the Soviet Order Medal und the Order of Stalin. The CUNJEC? stated this was unusual for a person of his age and gained hin great respect. At the end of the war he had no more desive for military life although his superiors tried to keep him in the military. Instead, he went for four years to the Institute of Foreicn Nelntions and Learned the Fuglish language. Upon graduation, a man ene to hin and told hin thet he had a job lined up for him. He gtated thet this actually was more Like being ordered to take this prrticular job which turned out HW 53320 Bocld:32395229 Page 3 ..
i t HW 53320 LESHIK, George M. (A) #262 622: C SsD/l to be with the Naval Intelligence. We claimed that there vere tvo military intelligence organizations at the time, the Naval and the Ground Force military type. en es eee ee ee ee (e) On 23 Februnvy 1964, as CURSUCL approached the table for | _ 4 the evening meal, he noted that the Tino mugazine lying on the coffce table in the living room had a picture of Maric OSWALD. As he sat dom he hit the table with his fist and said, "I fecl that I could have stopred OSUALD". At this point Speelel Agent Stanley C. LACII asked him "“howi". Ie proceeded to sbate that he (SUBJECE) was head of the KGB Tourist and Visltorns Section viich kept control over the activities of OSWALD while he ins in the Sovict Unie. We caid at ; ‘the tine, OSVALD was of no speeial concern or Interest to the KGB heenuse he lacked intelLlisence backsround. Therefore, when he applied for permission to leave Ruscia, they (KCB) under his (SUBJECT) direction daformed OSYALD thet he vould have to make his applicetion through the appropriate channels of the Stabe Pepartment, who in ‘win would request hig releuse from the Russian ecunterparts in lyrmdlinj;, of vicas. This. he said. was.all cone for propnyands ..nd show porpoaces.: He went on to... etate that-if they really wanted to release OOVALD, Lt -could have been done on the cpur of the monent, but gince OSWALD had nothing and vas | not vorth anything, they decided that this was an opportunity to show the American State Departnent that they did not mind releasing individ- uals if they applicd for releace through the appropriate channels. rior to this application for release of OSWALD, the CUBJECT stated that since he wis of no particular interest to them and there was nothing in Moscow that they could vice hla for or place him into, they Gecided that they voild send ONAN to lilusk where he vould be placed tua factory working on radios in the ape that sone training in the olectrteal and electronic field mifht recult in his development Into an electrontes engineer; however, he chowed no capability in this ficld. The SUBJECT then stated that ib was goeb at this pevlod, before. sending OSLALD to Minsk, that oa very chraupe thing happened. i OSWALD vas cupposed to have a mseting with a travel agent in regard to preparations for his going to Pinel at. h o'clock In the afternoon. At G o'clock be cbill did not report to the travel agent, so the travel npent deeided to go to the hovel vhere OSUALD vas staying to see if he could locate him. “hon he got to the hotel he asked the clerk if OSWALD DoclTd:32395279 Page 4
HW 53320 Docld: 32395229 Page 5 LESUIK, George M. (A) #262 622 C SD/1 wis in his room, the clerk nodded affiraatively, awl the travel agent procceded to OSWALD's room. He tried the door, but the decor was lo ‘ade | Ne knocked, got no response, and then with the assistance of the ele k they broke into the room and found OSWALD Jying across the bed vith both of his wrists slashed. The travel ayert and the clovk vespouded fmmadlately by taking OSWALD to the near-by wcdical Lacllity whore he was given blood. treusfunions and after a period of tim: regained his otrengine During firvastigation the following day the SUPJNCL stated that the coctor indleatod that had OSWALD not been found for approximately tcn move minutes, he vould © bave been dead. It is here that the SUBJACE again rounded the table and cnid if the travel agent had not broken into the room, but had inctead contacted the KGB office like they ave tustructed to when they do not get any response Troan people with shhon they have oppointuents , thet he (£ SUBJECT) would have most lilcely divecicd the travel agent to forget about hin, and on the following day ov later thet croning he vould have sent one of the KGB agents to check en OGVALD, at which time he veuld have been found dead. This, he vent en to state, is what burts him vhen he realizes that he covld have beon inetrumental in disposing of OSWALD without any special inquixvy or reriouc laveetigntéion, OfVALD being nothing, and at the sume time today the President of the United . tihates 2 President KENITEDY, vould bo alive. The SUBJECT then went cn’ to state that after OSWALD was sont’ to Minsk Lb was there that he met. Luyie. Like himsel? (OSWALD), Marie was a girl froaa peacants Lonily with no special background and somcvhat Uiterate. It was becouse of her poor background that she was given permission to marry OSVALD and return to the United States as hin wile. The SUBJECT then went on to dexeribe what took place en the day thab President KMEDY vas acsasslinted. Tle cnfd that this uas actual] x on Saturday In Moscov, the fend of Moverber. He wie hog at the tim and happened to have the radio cn, vhen he heard that the President of the United States had been ageaceinuted. Approciimviely one hour later, the radio informed him that the agcecsin was Lee OGUALD. This announcement, he sald, really stunned hin. Ie grabbed his coat cad darned to his office. Tnmediately upon his arrival he ecarchead for the OSi/ALD file. When he found the file he revieved it and found that OSVALD had not been used or even approached for use by the Rucolen Tateligence. Ye put in a long distance call to the Chief of the KGB Section in Minck and inquired whether they had veed, trained or prepared OGVALD ia any vay for intelli- fonee activity. The Chick tnforned Nin thet aceovding to what he could reeall, they had nob wade any uce of ONVATD. Just about this tine, he (sunsnée) gsbated that his euperioe valled Lato the office and dirccicd ce en RR pe a ge re a erm Me se een ne ee ——y
, ° * y | HW 53320 LUGNIK, George M. (A) #262 622 C SD/1 the SUBJECE to get all the Laformtion nvatilable on OSWALD and prepare a curmary to be furniched the top officials of the Communist Farty. The SUBRJECY then direeted the KGB Agent in Minsk to likewise prepare a suumary of his file on OSWALD snd informed him tht within twenty winutes a KGB agent would evrive by special military plane to pick up the swamry for return to Moscov. We said this tas accouplished, and within one hour they were preparing a detailed report on OSWALD's aebivity in Russia. This, ceicluded the SUBJECE, is the story of OSVALD in Rursia. . ; — C. Ps. AFFILIATION (f) The SUBJECE alco Indicuted that he did not join the Communist ‘ Party until he was 27 years old, end ine did this out of respect to his father, vho at the time was on his death bed and ached hha (SUBJECT) © whether he would do him one more favor before he dicd. That is how the SURJECT stated he joined the Communist Party. Othevirise, he probably | vould not have been a neonber to this day. (z) fhe SUBINCT ctuted thrt the KGB are able to differontiate - Letveen Anorieuns vho are agsigned to lisseow and ore actually the State Deyartuent type, fro those who have.an intelligence background, by the fact that the intelligence type of people do not agcoclate with the Russian girls, that is they wlll net go out with them alous, whereas the State Department type will. Also, over a period of a month or ‘two, they Invariebly are xble to find evidence that the Intelligence types have heen mecturbating. This is ucvally detected through close cxan- ination of the individual's tovels and bed ehoeets. RUSSIAN U-1 ATRORAFT ee rene. (nh) On 25 Febsunrvy Oh duvtue tia evening weal, a discussion vas had regarding the receut nirplane evashes noted Jn the newspapers and on TV tn the United States. The GSURJECT. commented that he has a lot of friends who are test pilots and vho are now engaged in testing what he referred to os a U-L type of alreraft that is faster than any other atreraft in the vorld. We added thr’ these friends are highly paid bub they hive very dongerous jobs. DoclTd:32395229 Page 6
HW 53320 LESHIK, George M. (A) #262 622 C SsD/1 CURJECE'S FATHER (1) The SUBJECE also wade reference to his father during this | meal, describing him as a very tall and extremely wr Ll-built individual, and one who was extremely intellicent cud a self-mide, sel.f-cducated nan. He learned the shipbuilding trade mostly throvgh hls own research and study, and also from the SUPJECE's yrandfather, who was one of the first shipbuilders in Russia. The SUBJECT added thot his grandfather died at the age of 94. He also stated that after the death of his . father, a.memorial vas built in hio memory since he vas considered a very capable director of the coverament shipping Industry. That yap about the: last tiue he saw his mother and brother and sister, as they all went to this ceremony in honor of his father. He also indtented that there wes a periodical vhich gave a ccaplete run-down on his Zamily background, including that of his gravdfather and his father, and it was well publicized; and this he believes had a lot to do with his being able to get some special preference and move along as fast as he did in tho ESB orgentlzation. KGB PRESSURE Oi] FAULLY (j) On 27 February 196! during lunch, the SUBJECT stated that he has been informed that the KGB is putting pressure on his inuediate family, particularly his mother. Wowvever, he said he vas not overly worried about her because she is well-off financially, and being up in age there is not much they can do to her. However, vhat conecrns him most is the fact that they have already started to play on the sympathies of his tvo children and his wife. The SUBJECT stated that he was anticipating thie; hovever, he cid not think that thoy vould sturt 60 soon to pressure the fuwily. Nowever, he dors vive some hope that in due time he woy be able to get his family ont of Ruscla. This hope he cald was given to him by the Chlef of SR Division. LIBRARY OF CONGRHSS PMINERATTON (x) On 25 February 1964 duving a sicghtcecing tcur of Vashington by vehicle, as we passed the library of Congress, tc SURJECL pointed to the building and stated that "we have people working in there". Special Agent Stanley C. LACH said, "who is 'we't" ond the EURBJIECT enswered, "KCB". He continued by stating that this was a good place to place people because they could readily Learn by gust vatching what research was being done in the Library of Congress by the military $i 6 rennet nny anaes EO ES AAAS aT NT aE TAT Docld: 32395229 Page fF TTT rt errr A RR I a . : : *
HW 53320 LESHIK, George M. (A) so062 622 C SD/L and thereby get an Idea as to what the military was planning in the oy of armawents and things of that nature. The SUBJECT alco adviscd that the responsibility for getting information cuircptitiously from American Erbossies in foreign countrics who employ. indigenous personnel, falls within the confines of the KGB. He stated that the way they co nbout this is to work through the indigpcnous personnel and arrange to enter the enbassy at special times during the night. They would first nake a close survey and a photograph of the area in which the embassy keeps its classified material, then they would subs2quently enter this area and open up the safes. “hen he was asked how: this was done he stated, "oh, corbinations to cafes ave not hard to acquire". Ile said that the important and difficult part of this activity is taking the material out and photographing 1t and then placing it exactly as it was before they teuched it. — . o =. -_ > ett 8 DoclId:32395229 Page & LAsceta Agent sen ee/Z7 “a Ali ot ar nn tes 8 re i ee ee ee ee ee ce ee