FBI: Aeroflot Flight 6833

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

All records related to the hijacking of "Aeroflot Flight 6833" or "Aeroflot 6833" on November 18th of 1983. This was a hijacking of a commercial airliner flying between Tbilisi and Leningrad by a number of culturally prominent Georgians who were attempting to defect from the Soviet Union. The hijacking was unsuccessful, and the plane never left Soviet airspace. All of the hijackers were tried and executed following the hijacking. The incident has been dramatized in literature, theater and film numerous times in recent years in the country of Georgia, and opinions of the incident serve as a sort of litmus test regarding opinions toward the Soviet Union. The release of any documents, should they exist, would benefit the study of contemporary Georgian history, and a show of openness regarding the incident would not be harmful (and in fact would probably be helpful) for the relationship between the US and Georgia.

Here is a wikipedia page about the hijacking:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroflot_Flight_6833

The following were all hijackers on the planes, who were later captured and executed. There names might be useful in the search for documents:

Gia Tabidze, Davit Mikaberidze, Soso Tsereteli, Gega Kobakhidze, Kakhi Iverieli, Paata Iverieli.

Please include all potentially responsive materials related to Aeroflot Flight 6833, including but not limited to all communications, reports, inquiries, investigations, photographs, audio files, video files, memos, directives, etc. Please include all materials found in other subject files and all materials associated with any potentially-related names and any other known aliases, nicknames, code names, or any other identifying pseudonyms or references utilized by this agency. Please consult the Central Records System and records, the Electronic Surveillance (ELSUR) Data Management System and records, Microphone Surveillance (MISUR) records, Physical Surveillance (FISUR) records, Technical Surveillance (TESUR) records, and all available cross-reference indices, databases, and records, in addition to any other locations containing potentially-responsive materials.

In addition, according to a blog post I just read, it is important that I state the following: "As you know, your agency is required to search the records stored at NARA’s Washington Records Center in Suitland, MD, but still technically under your agency’s control. For more information see 36 CFR 1250.8". Thank you.

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,

Robert Delaware