Anatoliy Golitsyn (Federal Bureau of Investigation)

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

Records relating to Anatoliy Mikhaylovich Golitsyn (Анатолий Михайлович Голицын; born August 25, 1926), a Soviet KGB defector to the United States. He was known as "Ivan Klimov" when the Soviet embassy in Helsinki, Finland as vice counsel and attache. Please include copies of and records relating to what Golitsyn described as "Memoranda to the Central Intelligence Agency" and other materials prepared for CIA. Additionally, include records relating to his books, "New Lies for Old" and "The Perestroika Deception". I am also requesting a cross-reference with KGB defector Yuri Ivanovich Nosenko and records relating to the alleged 1967 failed plot against Golitsyn by the KGB in Canada and any other attempts to assassinate, discredit or neutralize Golitsyn.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Michael Best

Thank you for following up on my FOIA request for records relating to Anatoliy Mikhaylovich Golitsyn, FOIA #1343167-000. The disclosure of these records is in the public interest, and many of the records outweigh the privacy concerns.

1. Anatoliy Mikhaylovich Golitsyn and information provided by him helps impeach the testimony of KGB (alleged false) defector Yuri Nosenko who testified he was responsible for Lee Harvey Oswald's files in the Soviet Union. Information provided by Yuri Nosenko was leaked to the Warren Commission and provided to subsequent governmental investigations, and has played an important role in the understanding of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and Lee Harvey Oswald's time in the Soviet Union after defecting to Russia. Since Anatoliy Golitsyn's information impeaches Yuri Nosenko's credibility, and the affair shines light on multiple high profile government investigations into the JFK assassination and intelligence activities, it is clearly in the public interest that it be available for public review.

2. Anatoliy Golitsyn's information sheds light on KGB operations, disinformation campaigns and attempts to undermine the United States.

3. Anatoliy Golitsyn has written two extensive books (New Lies for Old and The Perestroika Deception: Memoranda to the Central Intelligence Agency) about his work with first the KGB and then CIA and FBI following his defection to the United States. Many of these details were taken, with permission from CIA, from his files and from memos that he had prepared for CIA. His publishing this information demonstrates that:

a. Mr. Golitsyn recognizes the importance of the public having this information and wishes the public to have it.
b. Mr. Golitsyn's disclosure of this information constitutes a de facto waiver of privacy for these and related issues.
c. CIA's approval signified their recognized that information about him and provided by him are relevant to the public, not damaging to national security and suitable for release.

4. Numerous scholarly books have been written that discuss Mr. Golitsyn and his work with the intelligence community, including Wedge: From Pearl Harbor to 9/11: How the Secret War between the FBI and CIA Has Endangered National Security. This, along with the books authored by Mr. Golitsyn, establish that he is a public figure. As has been noted and held up in court, “persons who have placed themselves in the public light, e.g., through politics, or voluntarily participate in the public arena have a significantly diminished privacy interest than others.”

As described above, it is in the public's interest that this information be available and therefore I ask that any fees be waived. All documents released will be published both by MuckRock and the Internet Archive's National Security collection.

Thank you again for your response for and your assistance in fulfilling my FOIA request.

In addition to the CRS search, I am requesting a cross-reference search and an ELSUR search.

Thank you.

According to the FBI website, this FOIA request was closed. However, I have not received any correspondence explaining this. If the notification was sent more than two weeks ago, please resend it - otherwise I will assume it is still in transit.

In February, I received a letter notifying me that there were issues with the FOIA request because the subject is still alive - I promptly responded with a detailed response on February 7th, but received no acknowledgment of that. Can you confirm that it was received?

Thank you!

Michael Best

Helpful mystery person,

Thank you for your response about why the request was closed and explaining that it has been re-opened with a new number.

Please note, however, that I did respond in less than a week. My response, and proof of when it was sent, can be seen at https://www.muckrock.com/foi/united-states-of-america-10/anatoliy-golitsyn-federal-bureau-of-investigation-23437/#comm-223983 and https://www.muckrock.com/foi/raw_email/223983/ - both of which are time and date stamped.

Michael Best

I am appealing the exemption decision, as I believe I demonstrated that it is both in the public interest and that the subject has, by his repeated actions, demonstrated a de facto privacy waiver.

1. Anatoliy Mikhaylovich Golitsyn and information provided by him helps impeach the testimony of KGB (alleged false) defector Yuri Nosenko who testified he was responsible for Lee Harvey Oswald's files in the Soviet Union. Information provided by Yuri Nosenko was leaked to the Warren Commission and provided to subsequent governmental investigations, and has played an important role in the understanding of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and Lee Harvey Oswald's time in the Soviet Union after defecting to Russia. Since Anatoliy Golitsyn's information impeaches Yuri Nosenko's credibility, and the affair shines light on multiple high profile government investigations into the JFK assassination and intelligence activities, it is clearly in the public interest that it be available for public review.

2. Anatoliy Golitsyn's information sheds light on KGB operations, disinformation campaigns and attempts to undermine the United States.

3. Anatoliy Golitsyn has written two extensive books (New Lies for Old and The Perestroika Deception: Memoranda to the Central Intelligence Agency) about his work with first the KGB and then CIA and FBI following his defection to the United States. Many of these details were taken, with permission from CIA, from his files and from memos that he had prepared for CIA. His publishing this information demonstrates that:

a. Mr. Golitsyn recognizes the importance of the public having this information and wishes the public to have it.
b. Mr. Golitsyn's disclosure of this information constitutes a de facto waiver of privacy for these and related issues.
c. CIA's approval signified their recognized that information about him and provided by him are relevant to the public, not damaging to national security and suitable for release.

4. Numerous scholarly books have been written that discuss Mr. Golitsyn and his work with the intelligence community, including Wedge: From Pearl Harbor to 9/11: How the Secret War between the FBI and CIA Has Endangered National Security. This, along with the books authored by Mr. Golitsyn, establish that he is a public figure. As has been noted and held up in court, “persons who have placed themselves in the public light, e.g., through politics, or voluntarily participate in the public arena have a significantly diminished privacy interest than others.”