Andropov's suppression of dissidents (67-82)

• • Between 1968-70, 528 political dissidents sent to prison.
  • 1972 show trials of Solzhenitsyn and Sakharov failed to create terror.
  • Helsinki Agreement in 1975 caused Government to appear hypocritical.
• Andropov's use of exile and emigration

  • Andropov had two ways of dealing with dissidents:
  • High profile dissidents with a big reputation was allowed to emigrate.
  • Artists who opposed authorities were allowed to emigrate in the 1970’s.
  • Over 100,000 potential trouble makers were allowed to leave the USSR while Andropov was head of the KGB.
  • The policy was related to Jewish emigration since the establishment of Israel in 1948.
  • Andropov argued that keeping Jews in the USSR created more dissidents as 20% of journalists were Jews.
• Andropov's use of repressive psychiatry

  • Emigration was Andropov’s preferred weapon against well-known dissidents.
  • For less well known dissidents, they could be sent to psychiatric institutions for compulsory treatment.
  • Sending someone to hospital was a lot less likely to attract media attention.
  • Criminal records were public documents and therefore Western journalists could trace dissidents versus private psychiatric records.
  • Psychiatric treatment could last indefinitely whereas prison sentences come to an end.
  • Practice used against Protestant Christians and Jehovah’s witnesses.
• Prevention and repression under Andropov

  • 70,000 dissidents received official KGB warnings.
  • KGB Official Warnings; dissidents interviewed and warned to stop their activities; they were then placed under surveillance.
  • 2000 subversive groups suppressed in the 1970s.
  • Andropov prepared to use show trials; however these not extremely effective.
• Dealing with discontent under Andropov

  • Soviet citizens resented lack of job progression and economic stagnation.
  • Soviet citizens resented corruption of the Communist Party.
  • KGB report that citizens lost faith; unhappy with alcoholism, poor labour discipline, avoidance of military service.
  • Soviet citizens shared sympathy for Polish strikers in the 1980s.
  • Andropov used campaigns such as Anti-Alcohol, Anti-Corruption, and Operation Trawl to deal with discontent.
• Discipline in the KGB

  • KGB Agents not allowed to accept gifts, forced to declare financial assets.
  • KGB Agents whose relatives broke the law were sacked.
  • Meritocratic promotion system; promoted those KGB agents who were successful in dealing with dissidents.
  • Directorate V established in 1967; special branch of the KGB to deal with dissidents.