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August 29, 1968

P. Shelest Reports on Informer Activity in the Ukraine

29 August 1968
Registration No. 96/s

Secret

TO THE CPSU CC POLITBURO MEMBER AND
FIRST SECRETARY OF THE UKRAINIAN CP

Comrade P. E. SHELEST

MEMORANDUM

on measures adopted to deal with people who have
expressed unsavory views about events in the CSSR.

The absolute majority of workers in Luhans'k Oblast wholeheartedly and completely support the policy and measures of the CPSU Central Committee and the Soviet government vis-à-vis the events in Czechoslovakia.

At the same time, there have been certain individuals who have expressed unsavory views. Appropriate work is being carried out with them.

The Councils of Workers' Honor in a number of collectives convened sessions where they discussed the improper behavior of certain individuals.349

For example, at a session on 27 August, the Council of Workers' Honor at Automotive Transport Enterprise No. 12115 in Kommunars'ka discussed the case of a taxi driver, I. K. Khudobyn, who was born in 1923 and is not a party member. While driving passengers around, he expressed anti-Soviet views, claiming that the unemployed in America live better than workers do here. He extolled the multiparty systems in capitalist countries and condemned the Soviet political order, and he spoke disapprovingly about the sending of troops by Warsaw Pact countries into Czechoslovakia.

Some 15 people took part in the Council session: a leader of a chauffeurs' brigade and champion of Communist labor, V. G. Belyaev, a soldier in the Great Patriotic War and leader of a taxi drivers' brigade, D. I. Frolov, a participant in the defense of Moscow and taxi driver, I. S. Zakotyn, a soldier in the Great Patriotic War and champion of Communist labor, the chauffeur A. E. Vdovchenko, and others.

The chairman of the Council explained who everyone was by referring to the services that each had performed. He then provided information about Khudobyn's anti-Soviet outbursts.

From the questions that were asked it was clear that Khudobyn lives well and owns his own home. In his collective, no one had ever interfered with him in any way. It was also clear that he had never been in any of the countries he extolled.

The members of the Council angrily condemned Khudobyn's despicable behavior.
A leader of a chauffeurs' brigade, V. G. Belyaev, a taxi driver, I. S. Zakotyn, the head of auto column No. 2, I. I. Luchko, and a worker, E. S. Hodzevskyi, said that Khudobyn is disparaging the Soviet regime even though it gave him the right to live and work freely and provided him with material sustenance, and that he is extolling a life he has never seen and does not know.

In his speech, a taxi driver, Cde. Zakotyn, said: “I participated in the Finnish and Great Patriotic Wars. I took part in the battles to liberate Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria. I was in Germany. None of these countries is better than our Motherland. You should remember that, Khudobyn. And there is nothing better than our Communist Party, nothing better than our Soviet government. It is simply disgusting for me to look at you after your ridiculous comments.”

The members of the Council who spoke demanded that Khudobyn atone for his transgressions by performing honest labor.

In his own remarks at the end of the Council session, Khudobyn acknowledged his guilt and implored the Council of Workers' Honor to let him stay in the collective. He declared that he will work flawlessly, and that if it should prove necessary, he will be the first to go wherever the Motherland sends him.

The Council adopted a decision to trust Khudobyn and keep him in the collective, but they warned him that if such misdeeds are ever repeated, the Council will request the state security organs to hold him accountable before the law.

Councils of Workers' Honor also met at the “Cultivated Crystal” Mine of the “Red Coal Vein” Trust, at Mine No. 63 of the “Red Partisan Coal” Trust, at “Dry Quarry” Mine No. 1 of the “Red Coal Mine” Trust, at the “Black Sea” Mine of the “Lysichans'k Coal” Trust, and at other sites.

In total, the Councils of Workers' Honor reviewed the cases of 10 people, including a worker at the “Cultivated Crystal” Mine, Yu. G. Rastokyn, a worker at Mine No. 63, L. D. El'tsev, a worker at “Dry Quarry” Mine No. 1, V. I. Sherep, a rock-cleaning worker at the “Black Sea” Mine, V. I. Lanovs'kyi, a worker at the “Central” Mine of the “Anthracite” Trust, A. M. Shklyar, a coal-cutter at Mine No. 68 of the “Red Partisan Coal” Trust, A. M. Runchak, a worker at Artem Mine No. 10 of the “Kommunars'k Coal” Trust, N. N. Abramenko, a tractor-driver at the techical supply facility of the “Lysichans'k Coal” Trust, E. Ermakov, and a house-painter at NOD-4 of the Luhans'k railroad division, K. M. Karyukyn.

At the “Proval's'kyi” collective farm in the Sverdlovs'k district, a party meeting considered the case of a Communist and chauffeur at the collective farm, I. V. Trebnykiv, who expressed unsavory views. The party meeting expelled him from the ranks of the CPSU.

Oblast committee secretaries and bureau members of the Ukrainian CP took part in the meetings of Councils of Workers' Honor.
The reviews by the Councils of Workers' Honor of the cases of individuals who expressed unsavory views are of great educational significance. Through these meetings, the workers themselves provide a correct political assessment of recent developments and deal a rebuff to the demagogues and slanderers.350 The workers also assume control over the future behavior of the individuals whose cases are discussed by the Council.

Councils of Worker' Honor also are stepping up their activity at other enterprises and organizations. Their attention is focused on the struggle against coal-cutters, violators of labor discipline, and other individuals who have engaged in immoral, anti-social acts.

OBLAST COMMITTEE SECRETARY, UKRAINIAN CP

V. SHEVCHENKO351

P. Shelest submit a summary of informer reports for the CC CPSU on people who have "expressed unsavory views about events in the CSSR."


Document Information

Source

TsDAHOU, F. 1, Op. 25, Spr. 32, Ll. 198-201.

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