Soviet Union: Information on the existence of political officers on sea vessels (1990-91)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1992 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SUN10406 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Soviet Union: Information on the existence of political officers on sea vessels (1990-91), 1 February 1992, SUN10406, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab19ab.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information specific to this topic is not currently available to the IRBDC. However, please see the related Response to Information Request SUN9395, available in the REFINFO database. In addition, please note the following information.
Radio Free Europe reported in August 1991 that Russian president Boris El'tsin had ordered the disbanding of Communist Party (CP) cells in army units located in the Russian Republic (RFE 30 Aug. 1991, 57). Gorbachev banned political activity by all parties in the Soviet armed forces, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the KGB on 24 August 1991 (RFE 6 Sept. 1991, 74). In an October report, Radio Free Europe indicates that the Soviet Defence Minister, while supporting the departification and depoliticization of the armed forces, "stated his intention to protect the careers of the thousands of political officers..." (RFE 25 Oct. 1991, 10). Please see the attached excerpt from this article for details. Further, a report dated 8 December 1991 states that "the Main Political Administration has been formally dissolved (although the extent to which [CP] party influence in the armed forces has been eliminated remains unclear)..." (RFE 3 Jan. 1992, 18).
Bibliography
Radio Free Europe. 3 January 1992. Vol. 1, No. 1. R FE/RL Research Report. Foye, Stephen. "The Soviet Armed Forces: Things Fall Apart."
. 25 October 1991. Vol. 3, No. 43. Report on the USSR. McMichael, Scott R. "Military Reform Plan Begins to Take Shape."
. 6 September 1991. Vol. 3, No. 36. Report on the USSR. "Weekly Record of Events."
. 30 August 1991. Vol. 3, No. 35. Report on the USSR. "Weekly Record of Events."
Attachment
Radio Free Europe. 25 October 1991. Vol. 3, No. 43. Report on the USSR. McMichael, Scott R. "Military Reform Plan Begins to Take Shape," p. 10.