Yuri Bezmenov

In this name that followsEastern Slavic naming customs,thepatronymicisAlexandrovichand thefamily nameisBezmenov.

Yuri Bezmenov
Юрий Безменов
Bezmenov,c. 1986
Born	Yuri Alexandrovich Bezmenov December 11, 1939 Mytishchi,Russian SFSR,Soviet Union
Died	January 5, 1993(aged 53) Windsor,Ontario,Canada
Nationality	Soviet and Russian
Other names	Tomas Schuman
Citizenship	Canadian
Education	Moscow State University University of Toronto
Occupation(s)	KGB press and propaganda agent (alleged), APN journalist, later defector/informant, anti-communist author
Years active	1963–1986
Employers	KGB(alleged) Novosti Press Agency(APN) CBC
Known for	Accusations of Soviet infiltration of, andactive measures(subversion) against American society
Notable work	Various lecture tapesandLove Letter to America
Movement	Anti-communism
Children	3

Yuri Alexandrovich Bezmenov(Russian:Ю́рий Алекса́ндрович Безме́нов;December 11, 1939 – January 5, 1993; alias:Tomas David Schuman) was aSovietjournalist forNovosti Press Agency(APN). In 1970, as a member of the KGB Soviet mission in New Delhi, India, Bezmenov defected to the West and was re-settled in Canada pursuant to an arrangement between American and Canadian security agencies.

After being assigned to a station inIndia,Bezmenov eventuallygrew to lovethepeopleand theculture of India.At the same time, he began to resent the KGB-sanctioned repression ofSoviet dissidentsand other intellectuals who dissented from Moscow's policiesand he decided to defect to the West.Bezmenov is best remembered for hisanti-Marxist,anti-Soviet, and anti-atheist lectures and books published in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

Early life and student years (1939–1963)

Bezmenov was born in 1939 inMytishchi,nearMoscow,to Russian parents. Bezmenov stated that his father was a high ranking Soviet Army officer, later put in charge of inspecting Soviet troops in foreign countries, such as theMongolian People's RepublicandCuba.Bezmenov's father died in the 1970s. When Bezmenov was seventeen, he entered theInstitute of Oriental Languages,a part of theMoscow State Universitywhich was under the direct control of the KGB and theCommunist Party Central Committee.In addition to languages, he studied history, literature, and music, and became an expert on Indian culture. During his second year, Bezmenov sought to look like a person from India; his teachers encouraged this because graduates of the school were employed as diplomats, foreign journalists, or spies.

As a Soviet student, Bezmenov stated in an interview that he was required to takecompulsory military trainingin which he was taught how to play "strategic war games" using the maps of foreign countries, as well as how tointerrogateprisoners of war.

Life in India, propaganda work, and disillusionment (1963–1970)

After graduating in 1963, Bezmenov spent two years in India working as a translator andpublic relations officerwith the Soviet economic aid groupSoviet Refineries Constructions,which builtrefinerycomplexes.

In 1965, Bezmenov was recalled to Moscow and began to work forNovosti Press Agencyas an apprentice for their classified department of "Political Publications" (GRPP). Bezmenov alleged that about three quarters of Novosti's staff were actually KGB officers, with the remainder being "co-opted" or KGBfreelance writersand informers like himself.However, Bezmenov did not do real freelance writing. Instead, he stated that he edited and plantedpropagandamaterials in foreign media, and delegations of Novosti's guests from foreign countries on tours of the Soviet Union or to international conferences held in the Soviet Union.

After several months, Bezmenov stated that he was forced to act as an informerwhile maintaining his position as a Novosti journalist, and used his journalistic duties to help gather information and to spreaddisinformationto foreign countries for the purposes of Soviet propaganda and subversion.

Rapid promotion followed, and Bezmenov was once again assigned to Bilain 1969, this time as a Soviet press-officer and a public relations agent for the KGB. He continued Novosti's propaganda efforts inNew Delhi,working in the Soviet embassy. Bezmenov was directed to slowly establish a Sovietsphere of influencein India.In the same year, a secret directive of the Central Committee opened a new secret department in all the Soviet Union's embassies around the world, entitled the "Research and Counter-Propaganda Group". Bezmenov became a deputy chief of that department, gathering intelligence from sources like Indian informers and agents, on influential and/or politically significant citizens of India.

Bezmenov alleged that he was instructed not to waste time on idealisticleftists,as they would become disillusioned, bitter, and adversarial when they realized what Bezmenov thought was the true nature ofSoviet communism.

During that period, Bezmenov became dissatisfied with the Soviet system. He then began careful planning to defect to the West.

Defection to the West and life in Canada (1970–1983)

According to a statement provided to theDelhi Policeby the so-called Soviet Information Centre, on February 8, 1970, Bezmenov was set to see a screening of the American filmThe Incidentwith two of his colleagues. However, it was reported by them at the time that he had not bought his ticket, and he told them he would join them in a moment and try to purchase one from ascalperoutside the theater.Bezmenov did not return to the theater.Instead, Bezmenov put onhippieclothes, complete with a beard and wig, before joining a tour group. By these means, he escaped toAthens,Greece.His defection was reported in the United States, with Soviet sources stating he was "not important" and did "clerical work",and American intelligence openly stating they believed him to be an agent of the KGB. At the time, his whereabouts were depicted in American media as unknown.After contacting the American embassy and undergoing extensive interviews with United States intelligence, theCentral Intelligence Agency(CIA) was able to help Bezmenov seek asylum in Canada, granted by the administration ofPierre Trudeau.The CIA and theRoyal Canadian Mounted Police(RCMP) assigned him a new name and identity for reasons of safety.In order tosave facewith the embarrassment of defection of an alleged KGB officer, the Delhi residency officially reported he had been abducted, and his son, his closest surviving relative, was given financial compensation.

After studyingpolitical scienceat theUniversity of Torontofor two years, and working on anOntariofarm for three years, in 1973, Bezmenov was hired by theCanadian Broadcasting CorporationinMontreal,broadcasting to the Soviet Union as part of the CBC's International Service.This is when he met his wife, Tess. In 1976, Bezmenov was fired from the CBC at the request of then Prime Minister, Pierre Elliot Trudeau. The Soviet ambassador to Canada phoned then-prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau to complain about Bezmenov’s Russian-language broadcasts. This led to a phone call from the prime minister to CBC’s president, continuing down the chain until Bezmenov was fired on March 9, 1976.After the CBC, he beganfree-lance journalism.He became a consultant forAlmanac Panoramaof theWorld Information Network.Bezmenov stated that the KGB successfully used theSoviet Ambassador to Canadato persuade Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to apply pressure to have him removed from that position.Bezmenov said in an interview that he had received veiled death threats from the KGB at this time.

Pro-American literature and lectures (Los Angeles, 1981–1986)

As I mentioned before, exposure to true information does not matter anymore. A person who is demoralized is unable to assess true information. The facts tell him nothing, even if I shower him with information, with authentic proof, with documents and pictures.…he will refuse to believe it… That's the tragedy of the situation of demoralization.

Yuri Bezmenov [1983]

He moved toLos Angelesin the 1980s.In 1983, at a lecture in Los Angeles, Bezmenov expressed the opinion that he "wouldn't be surprised" if the Soviet Union had shot downKorean Air Lines Flight 007in order to killLarry McDonald,an anti-communistDemocraticmember of theUnited States House of Representatives.Around the same time, Bezmenov had a child in the West, a daughter named Tanya. He later had a son named Jonathan.

In 1984, he gave an interview toG. Edward Griffin,titled 'Soviet Subversion of the Free World Press'. In the interview, Bezmenov stated that the KGB wanted the political system of the United States to gradually be subverted and explained methods that they were supposedly using.

The main emphasis of the KGB is not in the area of intelligence at all. Only about 15% of time, money, and manpower is spent onespionageand such. The other 85% is a slow process which we call eitherideological subversionoractive measures…orpsychological warfare.

Under the cover name assigned to him by the Canadian RCMP, Tomas D. Schuman, Bezmenov authored the bookLove Letter to America.The author's biography of the book states that Bezmenov lived a life similar toWinston Smith,fromGeorge Orwell'sNineteen Eighty-Four.Other books by Bezmenov are:No Novosti Is Good News,World Thought Police,Black Is Beautiful, Communism Is Not.

In 1984, theWashington Postreported Bezmenov publicly denounced admission of a Soviet cruise ship toLos Angelesduring the1984 Summer Olympics,stating that they were placed there under the guise of entertainment, but maintained electronic surveillance equipment aboard to monitor radio and telephone communications.In another interview, Bezmenov would describe a series of methods he posited that the KGB had used during the Games, including claimed espionage by Soviet foreign journalists, as well as the use of other personnel to, according to Bezmenov, "provide better control against possible athletic defections."

Later years and death (1986–1993)

In 1989, he and his wife divorced. That same year he moved toWindsor, Ontario,while she stayed in Montreal. Two years later, he began teachinginternational relationsat theUniversity of Windsor.In late December 1992, Bezmenov visited Tess and their children inMontrealforChristmas.Two weeks later, Bezmenov's death was reported on January 6, 1993. According to theWindsor Star,he died of a "massiveheart attack",on Tuesday, January 5, 1993.

Legacy

Since his death, Bezmenov's "Soviet subversion model"has been studied and interpreted by faculty and staff at theJoint Special Operations University(JSOU) to analyze historical events, including the decade-long Russian campaign that preceded the 2008Russo-Georgian War.His work has also been cited by senior director ofUPenn'sPenn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement,and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense,Michael R. Carpenter.His lectures have also been used byYalesenior lecturerAsha Rangappa,to illustrate the concept of active measures in the Soviet Union's supposed disinformation campaigns in the United States.

On August 19, 2020, Bezmenov's 1984 interview discussing active measures with a journalistG. Edward Griffinwas used in the teaser for the video gameCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War,in addition to its use in the main introduction on August 26. This in part has contributed to a renewed interest in both Bezmenov's work and lectures.

Disputes over authenticity of Bezmenov's KGB Officer status, political affiliation, and conspiracy theories

See also:Cultural Marxism

See also:Cultural Bolshevism

Doubts have been expressed regarding Bezmenov's KGB role, if any; according to some sources, Bezmenov was not a part of the KGBFirst Chief Directorate.

Bezmenov's audiences have included Americanfar-rightandanti-communistmovements, to whom he often gave speeches and lectures on their platforms.One of such is his interview with conspiracy theoristG. Edward Griffin.Bezmenov himself was involved with the anti-communist and far-rightUnification Churchand theJohn Birch Society.

When questioned about his association with the John Birch Society and the doubts raised about his allegiance, he responded "I'm not a member. I don't agree with everything they say",and stated that he resorted to right-wing platforms as a result of mainstream media outlets refusing to provide him with a platform, such asThe New York Times.

Clips from his interviews and lectures have been used to promote conspiracy theories aboutCOVID-19andvaccination mandatesand fabricated Communist infiltration in Western governments.

Works

Books

• Love Letter to America.Los Angeles,CA:W.I.N. Almanac Panorama (1984).ISBN978-0-93509013-0.OCLC19468210.
• Black is Beautiful, Communism is Not.Los Angeles, CA: N.A.T.A. Almanac (1985).ISBN978-0-93509018-5.OCLC62325386.

The following excerpts are from a talk on disinformation in the liberal media, given March 26 at a CAUSA USA Regional Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

• No "Novosti" is Good News.Los Angeles, CA: Almanac (1985).ISBN978-0-93509017-8.OCLC45013143.
• World Thought Police.Los Angeles, CA: N.A.T.A. Almanac (1986).OCLC1124779975.

Films

• Soviet Subversion of the Free Press: A Conversation with Yuri Bezmenov.Interview byG. Edward Griffin.Westlake Village, CA: American Media (1984).OCLC45810551.

Audio

• Soviet Ideological Subversion of America in Four Stages: Elizabeth Clare Prophet interviews Tomas Schuman, Novosti Press, Soviet Defector.Malibu, CA:Summit University(1984). Incl. 3 audiocassettes, handouts.OCLC25714330."The flame of freedom speaks at Summit University forum."

See also

• List of KGB defectors
• List of Soviet and Eastern Bloc defectors

Further reading

• Schuman, Tomas (1984). "Soviet Ideological Subversion of America in Four Stages: Elizabeth Clare Prophet interviews Tomas Schuman, Novosti Press, Soviet defector".Summit University(Audio). Interviewed by Elizabeth Clare Prophet. Malibu, California.OCLC25714330.

• Freedom of Information CIA file with article summarizing Bezmenov's ideas