Soviet Union: Information on whether employees of Aeroflot in the 1970s and 1980s had to be either KGB members or informers
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 September 1993 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SUN15315 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Soviet Union: Information on whether employees of Aeroflot in the 1970s and 1980s had to be either KGB members or informers, 1 September 1993, SUN15315, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac1290.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. |
According to John Barron in KGB: The Secret Work of Soviet Secret Agents, "A sizable portion of the Soviet nationals posted abroad as staff members of TASS, Aeroflot, Novosti, Amtorg, and Soviet commercial delegations [were] KGB and GRU officers" (1974, 27).
A professor at the Research Centre for Canada and the Soviet Successor States of Carleton University corroborates this statement (20 Sept. 1993). He points out, however, that Aeroflot had both external and internal operations and that it is doubtful that ground crews, flight crews, and other specially-trained personnel would necessarily be KGB agents (ibid.) On the other hand, everyone in the Soviet Union was technically an informer and was expected to report contacts with foreigners and suspicious behaviour on the part of fellow citizens to the KGB (ibid.).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Barron, John. 1974. KGB: The Secret Work of Soviet Secret Agents. New York: The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
Research Centre for Canada and the Soviet Successor States, Carleton University, Ottawa. 20 September 1993. Telephone interview with professor.