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August 26, 1982

Telegram, Mitew to Comrade Damm

This document was made possible with support from The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Telegram

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Sender: Sofia – Mitew

Recipient: Berlin – Damm

Sofia, August 26, 1982

Dear Comrade Damm!

It is requested that the following be transmitted to Col. WAGENBRETH, head of Department AM of HVA of the MfS:

Recently, biased and false material have appeared in the mass media of some capitalist countries that the attempted murder of Pope John Paul II in 1981 was the work of agencies of the KGB and the Bulgarian security agencies, which granted the terrorist Mehmed Ali direct support by supplying him with weapons and money. Clearly, this is a campaign directed by the security services of the enemy in pursuit of the goal of discrediting Bulgaria by foisting connections to terrorist organizations upon it.

In light of the situation that has arisen, it is requested that the preparation of documents regarding the joint Operation “Pope” be sped up.

Our number: 972/82                                                               

With socialist greetings,

Mitew

A Bulgarian intelligence official informs their East German counterpart of the "biased and false material" that alleges a Bulgarian connection to the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II.



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Document Information

Source

BStU, Berlin. Translated by Samuel Denney.

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Original Uploaded Date

2022-11-01

Type

Telegram

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Record ID

291291

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The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars