FBIS Report: Russian TV Program Examines Psychological Control Experiments in the USSR
This declassified CIA/FBIS cable is an editorial report on a Russian-language television program aired on Moscow's Ostankino Television First Program Network at 1920 GMT on 17 September 1992 during the 'Novosti' newscast. The 40-minute program, titled 'Black Box,' examined devices and drugs used in the former USSR to influence and manipulate the human brain. According to the report, a program for implementing methods of psychological influence was submitted to then Prime Minister Ryzhkov in 1987, with plans to apply such influence for military and economic purposes. A commission of about 20 people, including six academicians and a scientific council led by Academician Kotelnikov, was reportedly established. The program described parallel efforts in Ukraine (led by Academician Trifilov) and in Moscow (led by Dr. Ernest Andriankin), including research into psychological influence on the enemy in Afghanistan. Interviewees included Doctor of Technology Valeriy Kanyuka, who warned of 'ecologically pure weapons' and called for an international moratorium, journalist Igor Mogila, and biomedic Yuriy Malin, a former consultant to the USSR National Security Council. The program made several unverified claims, including footage relating to a 1967 attempt on Philippine President Marcos, an incident involving the U.S. submarine Nautilus on 25 July 1959, an alleged April 1990 CIA-KGB agreement on joint psychological-influence research, and purported CIA involvement in Carter's inauguration. The FBIS report was transmitted 22 September 1992 and approved for release by the CIA on 9 August 2000.
Description
A U.S. Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) editorial report summarizing a 40-minute Ostankino Television 'Black Box' program, broadcast 17 September 1992, on Soviet-era devices, drugs, and research programs intended to influence and control the human mind.
Claims
The CIA and KGB agreed in April 1990 on joint research in psychological influence under agreement number 174-90/16 (attributed to Nezavisimaya Gazeta).
30%Interviewee Valeriy Kanyuka warned of a new 'ecologically pure weapon' more frightening than nuclear weapons and called for a moratorium on such research.
50%An unnamed interviewee warned of 'ecologically pure weapons' more frightening than nuclear weapons and called for an international moratorium on such research.
50%A program for implementing methods of psychological influence for military and economic purposes was submitted to then-PM Ryzhkov in 1987, and a 20-member commission with a scientific council led by Academician Kotelnikov was established.
40%A program for implementing methods of psychological influence was submitted to Soviet PM Ryzhkov in 1987 for military and economic purposes.
40%A commission of about 20 people including six academicians and a scientific council led by Academician Kotelnikov was established to work on psychological-influence methods.
40%The program alleged CIA involvement in Carter's inauguration and referenced an attempt on President Marcos in March 1967 and a 25 July 1959 USS Nautilus incident.
15%Soviet groundwork allegedly allows the human mind to be split into 13 personalities.
15%Groundwork done in the former USSR allegedly allows the human mind to be split into 13 personalities.
10%The CIA was involved in Carter's inauguration.
10%
Events
Mar 31, 1990
Alleged CIA-KGB joint research agreement
Broadcast claim, citing Nezavisimaya Gazeta, of an agreement (No. 174-90/16) on joint psychological-influence research.
Sep 16, 1992
Broadcast of 'Black Box' program on Ostankino TV
40-minute program on Soviet psychological-influence devices and drugs aired at 1920 GMT during the 'Novosti' newscast.
Sep 21, 1992
FBIS report transmission
FBIS London bureau transmitted the editorial report summarizing the broadcast.
Dec 31, 1986
Alleged submission of psychological influence program to PM Ryzhkov
Program for implementing psychological influence methods for military and economic purposes reportedly submitted to then-PM Ryzhkov.
Jul 24, 1959
USS Nautilus incident (as claimed in broadcast)
Footage referenced regarding an incident involving the U.S. submarine Nautilus.
Aug 8, 2000
CIA approval for release
Document stamped 'Approved For Release 2000/08/09.'
Sep 16, 1992
'Black Box' program broadcast on Ostankino Television
40-minute program on Soviet devices and drugs used to influence the human brain, aired at 1920 GMT during the 'Novosti' newscast.
Dec 31, 1986
Psychological-influence program submitted to PM Ryzhkov
According to the program, a plan for implementing methods of psychological influence was submitted to then Prime Minister Ryzhkov.
Feb 28, 1967
Referenced attempt on President Marcos
Footage cited regarding an attempt on Philippine President Marcos.
Jul 24, 1959
Referenced USS Nautilus incident
Footage referenced concerning an incident involving the U.S. submarine Nautilus.
Sep 21, 1992
FBIS report transmitted
Cable filed by FBIS London from the broadcast.
Aug 8, 2000
CIA approved for release
Document declassified and approved for public release.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Organizations
People
Craft
Extracted text (OCR)
UNCLASSIFIED Approved For Release 2000/08/09 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000600450007-6 PAGE : 0004 ENVELOPE CDSN = LGX478 MCN = 92266/34070 TOR = 922662024 RTTUZYUW RUDKMKA3639 2662014-UUUU-~-RUEALGX. ZNR UUUUU ZYN HEADER én L R 221949% SEP 92 FM FBIS NDON-UK TO RUCWAAA/FBIS RESTON VA RHHMMCY/JICPAC HONOLULU II RUCKDDA/SECOND INTEL CO//ITU// RUDPMAX/FAISA FT BRAGG NC RUDPWDC/DA AMHS WASHINGTON DC RUEADWD/DA WASHINGTON DC//DASG-MIR// RUEALGX/DEFINTAGNCY WASH DC RUEARDF/DIR AFMIC FT DETRICK MD//IS// RUEBFGA/VOA WASH DC RUEBHAA/STORAGE CENTER FBIS RESTON VA RUEHC/SECGSTATE WASHINGTON DC//INR/CEE// RUEOACC/CDR PSYOPGP FT BRAGG NC//ASOF-POG-SB// ‘RUESDJ/FBIS OKINAWA JA RUESFV/FBIS VIENNA AU RUETIAV/MPC FT GEO G MEADE MD ACCT FBLD-EWDK UNCLAS 3D/PMU/SU 291 067 075 SERIAL: 1D2209194992 BODY PASS: COPY TO PROD TEP COUNTRY: RUSSIA SUBJ: PROGRAM EXAMINES PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTROL EXPERIMENTS IN USSR TEXT: ((EDITORIAL REPORT) ) MOSCOW TELERADIOKOMPANIYA OSTANKINO TELEVISION FIRST PROGRAM NETWORK IN RUSSIAN AT 1920 GMT ON 17 SEPTEMBER, IN ITS "NOVOSTI" NEWSCAST, BROADCASTS A 40-MINUTE PROGRAM ENTITLED "BLACK BOX", DEALING WITH THE DEVICES AND DRUGS USED IN THE FORMER USSR TO INFLUENCE AND BEND THE HUMAN BRAIN. THE PROGRAM BEGINS WITH THE PRESENTER NOTING THAT APPARENTLY A PROGRAM FOR IMPLEMENTING METHODS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLUENCE WAS SUBMITTED TO THEN PRIME MINISTER RYZHKOV IN 1987. THERE WERE PLANS TO USE PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLUENCE FOR MILITARY AND ECONOMIC PURPOSES. THE PROGRAMME GOES ON TO DEAL WITH THE METHODS OF INFLUENCING PEOPLE'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CONDITION, AND EXERTING INFLUENCE ON THEIR DECISIONS. AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN COMMENTS ON THE WORK WHICH WAS CARRIED OUT TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM. HE SAYS THAT A COMMISSION, CONSISTING OF 20 PEOPLE, WAS SET UP. ‘THERE WERE SIX ACADEMICIANS AMONG THEM AND A SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL, LED BY ACADEMICIAN KOTELNIKOV, UNCLASSIFIED Approved For Release 2000/08/09 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000600450007-6 UNCLASSIFIED Approved For Release 2000/08/09 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000600450007-6 PAGE: 0005 WAS ALSO SET UP. HE GOES TO SAY THAT THE COUNCIL DID NOT MAKE MUCH HEADWAY IN ITS WORK DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS TOTALLY REJECTED BY ACADEMIC CIRCLES. THERE WERE SIMILAR PROGRAMS IN UKRAINE, LED BY ACADEMICIAN TRIFILOV, AND IN MOSCOW LED BY DR ERNEST ANDRIANKIN. THE SPEAKER SAYS ANDRIANKIN WAS THE HEAD OF A DEPARTMENT DEALING WITH THEORETICAL PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH DESIGNING LOGICAL LANGUAGES FOR PROPAGANDA PURPOSES, AND HE RESEARCHED A PROGRAM FOR EXERTING PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLUENCE ON THE ENEMY IN AFGHANISTAN. ANOTHER UNIDENTIFIED MAN SAYS THAT HIS THEORY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT IT IS BETTER TO EXERT PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLUENCE THAN TO SHOOT. THE PROGRAM GOES ON TO DESCRIBE OTHER RESEARCH PROGRAMS WHICH HAVE EXISTED AND STILL EXIST. THE PRESENTER DWELLS ON THE DANGER OF THESE RESEARCH PROGRAMS ENDING UP IN THE HANDS OF THE WRONG PEOPLE. DOCTOR OF TECHNOLOGY VALERIY KANYUKA, THE FIRST INTERVIEWEE IDENTIFIED BY CAPTION, EMPHASIZES THAT ONE MUST BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THESE RESEARCH PROGRAMS. "UNTIL THE WORLD'S STATES REACH SOME AGREEMENT, UNTIL AN INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATION BANNING PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL STEERING OF INTELLECT AND INFLUENCING PEOPLE, A MORATORIUM ON THIS GROUND-WORK IS NEEDED," HE SAYS. "INSTEAD OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS WE WILL GET A NEW FORM OF WEAPONS, A MORE FRIGHTENING ONE, ONE WHICH HAS A FRIGHTENING NAME -- IT IS CALLED ECOLOGICALLY PURE WEAPONS". KANYUK THEN SAYS THAT INFLUENCING THE HUMAN BRAIN, AND SUBSEQUENTLY GENETICS, COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. HE THEN RECALLS CASES OF USING DRUGS FOR POLITICAL MOTIVES. THE VIDEO SHOWS FOOTAGE AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE ATTEMPT ON PRESIDENT MARCOS OF THE PHILIPPINES IN MARCH 1967. THE COMMENTARY SAYS THAT GROUND WORK DONE IN THE FORMER USSR ALLOWS THE MIND TO BE SPLIT IN TO 13 PERSONALITIES. IGOR MOGILA, A JOURNALIST FOR THE TRUD NEWSPAPER, TALKS ABOUT A SOVIET HYPNOTIST AND HIS INVOLVEMENT IN MILITARY ISSUES. THE VIDEO SHOWS FOOTAGE ABOUT AN INCIDENT INVOLVING THE U.S. SUBMARINE "NAUTILUS", WHICH TOOK PLACE ON 25 JULY 1959. VARIOUS OTHER UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE RESEARCH ARE INTERVIEWED. ONE, IDENTIFIED BY CAPTION, IS YURIY MALIN, A BIOMEDIC AND A FORMER CONSULTANT TO THE USSR NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL. MALIN GIVES EXAMPLES OF SIMILAR WORK DONE IN THE UNITED STATES. ACCORDING TO THE NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA, HE SAYS THE CIA AND THE KGB AGREED IN APRIL 1990 ON JOINT RESEARCH IN THE SPHERE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLUENCE -- THE AGREEMENT NUMBER IS 174-90/16, HE SAYS. THE PROGRAM CONCLUDES BY SHOWING FOOTAGE AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE CIA IN CARTER'S INAUGURATION. ADMIN (ENDALL) 171920 FOX GFE62209.012/JA 22/20152 SEP BT #3639 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED Approved For Release 2000/08/09 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000600450007-6
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