Documents / FOIA release
This 1968 Central Intelligence Agency memo passes along two Soviet articles distributed by the Novosti press agency (APN) that take opposite positions on UFOs. In the February 1968 issue of Soviet Life, Felix Zigel sets out Soviet sightings, argues that the Tunguska body may have been an artificial craft, and calls for scientific study. The other article, by Villen Lyustiberg, says UFOs are a myth that the US uses as propaganda. The memo finds it ironic that Soviet media published both views.
Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.
1. Whether you believe in unidentified flying objects (UFOs) or not, Novosti (APN -- the Soviet "unofficial" news agency) agrees with you. We are forwarding attached reproductions of two articles which argue both sides of the issue: a. "Unidentified Flying Objects" by Felix Zigel, Doctor of Science (Technology), Assistant Professor, Moscow Aviation Institute, appearing in the February 1968 issue of Soviet Life (counterpart to USIA's America) for which APN supplies all materials; and b. "'Flying Saucers'? They're a Myth!" by Villen Lyustiberg, APN Science Commentator, which originally appeared in the 16 February 1968 issue of Moskovsky Komsomolets, and which APN released in English translation on 12 March 1968. The first article takes UFOs quite seriously; the second laughs them off and even claims the U.S. publicizes them to divert people from its failures and aggressions. 2. It is not surprising that two writers take opposing views on so controversial a subject, or that one adds a dollop of propaganda. It is surprising to find any disagreement on any subject in Soviet media, especially in materials made available by the same agency to approximately the same readership. The irony is obvious. APPROVED FOR RELEASE DATE 16hn/78
FOIA release, from the cia-readingroom collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. The text was read from the page images by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word. 11 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.