Documents / FOIA release
This Central Intelligence Agency personality file on Soviet official Nikolay Sergeyevich Leonov (201-132139), with material dated 1953 to 1963, compiles cables, FBI documents, surveillance reports, press photos and passport copies. It records his Soviet Embassy service in Mexico City, the finding of his calling card in Fidel Castro's address book in 1956, and his role as Castro's interpreter in the USSR in 1963. A source identified him as a KGB officer, and a DIA item alleged he was planning Latin American insurgency.
“Headquarters”4 pages
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# SECRET Name: Valeriya Ivanovna LAQNOVA Born: Unknown Arrived in Mexico 11 July 1953 aboard S Aniron Gritti in Veraeus with husband No known title or position Roaldeneo in N9-100: Junnacath 82 Children: None known. None in Mexico Languages: Unknown Other personal data: Nickname: LIRA ## Private Activities Although we have no definite indications to that effect, there is a fair possibility that LEONOVA is employed in some administrative or clerical position in the Embassy, since she seems to be present in the Chancery area a good deal during office hours and, without children, would not otherwise have a great deal to do. Our only information relating directly to LEONOVA occurs during a conversation between APARINOVA and MELHIKOVA on 26 October in which APARINOVA complained bitterly that LEONOVA was shirking her share of responsibility in preparing food for the 7 November reception. LEONOVA had apparently failed to buy ingredients, after being asked to do so, on the plea that she had not been told exactly what kind of apples to get nor where to buy them. APARINOVA: "KOUSOMOLTSI always brag about being in the front line, but in actuality, beh F MELHIKOVA: "Yes, when I was at their home, we happened to discuss the reception, and Rita (ANTYASOVA) said, 'Why should we do the work for the reception?' I told her she should be ashamed of herself. I work in the Embassy and hold out during receptions and all holidays, and I don't complain. LEONOVA claims she is not going to do any shopping because she was not given the responsibility." APARINOVA: "What does she mean? I met her and said 'Lara. . .' She said she'd come over Sunday and make a list of the things to be bought." MELHIKOVA: "And she didn't come over. She was probably afraid of the work and the money involved. APARINOVA: "How silly. I told her we would refund all expenses." ## COMMON We infer that LEONOV (and perhaps her husband as well) is a good KOMSCHOL and may be endowed with the aggressively unpleasant personality which the Soviet system seems to foster so often. As shown in our photo coverage, both she and her husband have the appearance of persons who could be the wall-disciplined, unquestioning, devoted Communists idealised in Soviet propaganda.
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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. 165 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.