FBIS Report: Russian TV Program Examines Soviet Psychological Control Experiments
This UNCLASSIFIED FBIS London cable (serial LD2209194992), transmitted 22 September 1992 and approved for release by the CIA in 2003, reports on a Russian-language broadcast carried by Moscow Teleradiokompaniya Ostankino Television First Program Network at 1920 GMT on 17 September 1992. Within its 'Novosti' newscast, a 40-minute program titled 'Black Box' examined devices and drugs used in the former USSR to influence and 'bend' the human brain. The report states that a program for implementing methods of psychological influence was allegedly submitted to then Prime Minister Ryzhkov in 1987, with intended military and economic applications. A 20-person commission including six academicians and a scientific council led by Academician Kotelnikov was reportedly established, but made little headway due to rejection by academic circles; parallel programs were said to exist in Ukraine. Interviewees, including biomedic Yuriy Malin, discussed the dangers of such research, called for an international moratorium, and warned of a new 'ecologically pure' class of weapons more frightening than nuclear arms. The program cited claims (attributed to Nezavisimaya Gazeta) of a 1990 CIA–KGB agreement on joint psychological-influence research, referenced the 1967 attempt on Philippine President Marcos, an event named 'Nautilus' dated 25 July 1959, and alleged CIA involvement in Carter's inauguration. These are unverified assertions relayed from the broadcast.
Description
A declassified FBIS (Foreign Broadcast Information Service) London editorial report summarizing a 40-minute Ostankino Television 'Black Box' program broadcast on Russian TV, describing Soviet-era devices, drugs, and research programs intended to influence and control the human brain for military and economic purposes.
Claims
A 20-person commission including six academicians and a scientific council led by Academician Kotelnikov was established, but rejected by academic circles.
50%The CIA and KGB agreed in April 1990 on joint research into psychological influence (agreement 174-90/16), per Nezavisimaya Gazeta.
35%Groundwork done in the former USSR allegedly allows the human mind to be split into 13 personalities.
30%A program for implementing psychological-influence methods was submitted to Soviet PM Ryzhkov in 1987 for military and economic purposes.
40%A program for implementing methods of psychological influence was submitted to Prime Minister Ryzhkov in 1987 for military and economic purposes.
40%An 'ecologically pure' class of weapons more frightening than nuclear arms could emerge from this research.
30%Such research could produce a new 'ecologically pure' form of weapon more frightening than nuclear weapons.
30%The program alleged CIA involvement in Carter's inauguration.
20%
Events
Mar 31, 1990
Alleged CIA-KGB joint research agreement
Program claims (via Nezavisimaya Gazeta) that the CIA and KGB agreed in April 1990 on joint psychological-influence research, agreement number 174-90/16.
Sep 16, 1992
Broadcast of 'Black Box' program on Ostankino Television
40-minute program in the 'Novosti' newscast examining Soviet devices and drugs used to influence the human brain, aired at 1920 GMT.
Dec 31, 1986
Alleged submission of psychological-influence program to PM Ryzhkov
Program for implementing psychological influence methods reportedly submitted to Prime Minister Ryzhkov with military and economic aims.
Jul 24, 1959
'Nautilus' event
An event named 'Nautilus' referenced in the broadcast dated 25 July 1959.
Sep 21, 1992
FBIS report transmission
FBIS London transmitted the editorial report summarizing the broadcast.
Sep 8, 2003
CIA release/declassification
Document approved for release under CIA-RDP96-00792R000500610001-5.
Sep 16, 1992
'Black Box' program broadcast on Ostankino TV
40-minute Russian-language program on Soviet psychological-influence devices and drugs, aired at 1920 GMT.
Sep 21, 1992
FBIS London report filed
Editorial report summarizing the broadcast transmitted to FBIS Reston and distribution list.
Dec 31, 1986
Psychological influence program submitted to Ryzhkov
Reported submission of a program for methods of psychological influence for military and economic purposes.
Feb 28, 1967
Referenced attempt on President Marcos
Footage referenced in the program concerning an attempt on Philippine President Marcos.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Organizations
People
Topics
Programs
Extracted text (OCR)
UNCLASSIFIED. a Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000500610001-5 PAGE: 0004 ENVELOPE CDSN = LGX478 MCN = 92266/34070 TOR = 922662024 RTTUZYUW RUDKMKA3639 2662014 -UUUU--RUEALGX. ZNR UUUUU ZYN HEADER R 221949Z SEP 92 FM FBIS LONDON UK TO RUCWAAA/FBIS RESTON VA RHHMMCY/JICPAC HONOLULU HI RUCKDDA/SECOND INTEL CO//ITU// RUDPMAX/FAISA FT BRAGG NC RUDPWDC/DA AMHS WASHINGTON DC RUEADWD/DA WASHINGTON DC//DASG-MIR/ / RUEALGX/DEFINTAGNCY WASII DC RUEARDF/DIR AFMIC FT DETRICK MD//IS// RUEBFGA/VOA WASH DC RUEBHAA/STORAGE CENTER FBIS RESTON VA RUEHC/SECSTATE 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 BT CONTROLS UNCLAS 3D/PMU/SU 291 067 075 SERIAL: LD2209194992 BODY PASS: COPY TO PROD TEP COUNTRY: RUSSIA SUBJ: PROGRAM EXAMINES PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTROL EXPERIMENTS IN USSR TEXT: (CEDITORIAL 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 WITI] 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 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000500610001-5 UNCLASSIFIED 5 Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000500610001 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 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, IDENTIFIED BY CAPTION, EMPHASIZES THAT ONE MUST BE VERY CAREFUI, 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. "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 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 22/2015Z SEP BT #3639 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED 01-5 Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00792R0005006100
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