Nikolai Leonov
Encyclopedia
Nikolai Sergeyevich Leonov (born August 22, 1928) is a Russia
n nationalist politician and was a senior KGB
officer and Latin America
expert in the USSR. In 1953, at the age of 25, Leonov was posted to Mexico City
, where he learned Spanish at the Autonomous University. In the course of the sea voyage, he met Raúl Castro
, who was returning from the European Youth Festival. On arrival in Mexico
he took up a junior post in the Soviet Embassy. It was at this time that he first met Che Guevara
through Raúl Castro. Recalled to Moscow
in November 1956, Leonov was discharged from the foreign service, and deciding to pursue a career as a historian of Latin America, went to work as a translator for the official Soviet Spanish-language publishing house, Editorial Progreso. In the late summer of 1958 he was invited to join the KGB. On 1 September he began a two-year intelligence training course, that was interrupted, according to him, by the Cuban Revolution. In October 1959 his superiors ordered him to leave his studies and accompany Anastas Mikoyan to Mexico.
In 1955, Leonov met Che Guevara
in Mexico City
. They had become friends two years previously at a European youth festival voyage. Leonov violated Russian embassy rules by visiting Guevara who was fascinated with Soviet life. After answering some of Guevara's questions, Leonov gave him Soviet literature. When Guevara went to the embassy to pick up the books the two men talked more, that was the last time they talked in Mexico
In February 1960, he accompanied Soviet Deputy Premier Anastas Mikoyan
on his visit to Havana, where he renewed his contact with Che, to whom he gave a precision marksman's pistol, "on behalf of the Soviet people". During the 1960s he served as a senior KGB officer stationed in Mexico. During the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis
, he received regular reports from agents in Florida
with respect to American military preparations. He felt sure at the time that a nuclear confrontation would not be the result of the crisis. He served as interpreter on Fidel Castro
's visit to the Soviet Union in 1963. In 1968 Leonov was recalled to Moscow, where he became a senior analyst. A report compiled by his office in 1975 recognised the growing peril to the power of the Soviet Union in geo-political terms, arguing that in keeping with the policy of the British Empire
before it, the Soviet Union should limit the commitment of its resources to a few key areas from which its power could operate in a more selective fashion. The report suggested establishing a Soviet foothold on the Arabian Peninsula
, in 'the most Marxist country' in the region, South Yemen. The report was returned to Leonov's office without Andropov's signature of approval. In the late 70s and early 80s he travelled frequently to Poland
to assess the situation and reportedly told the head of the KGB Yuri Andropov
, in a heated discussion, that the prospects of Polish socialism looked bleak.
Between 1983 and January 1991, Leonov was Deputy Chief of the First Chief Directorate of the State Security Committee (KGB) of the Soviet Union
, the second most important post within the KGB structure. Previously he was Sub-Director of the KGB’s Analysis and Information Department (1973-1982) and Sub-Director of its Latin American Department (1968-1972). Leonov has a Doctorate
in Latin American History, from the USSR Academy of Sciences, and is author of the book Essays on Contemporary Central American History (Moscow: Academy of Sciences, 1973). In 1985 he published his memoirs under the title Difficult Times. As of 1998 he was a professor at the Institute of International Relations in Moscow.
In December 2003, Leonov was elected to the State Duma
, the lower house of the Russian parliament
, as a member of the nationalist Rodina
party. He is closely identified with the current Kremlin
administration and is a long-time friend and mentor of his former KGB subordinate, former President Vladimir Putin
.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n nationalist politician and was a senior KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
officer and Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
expert in the USSR. In 1953, at the age of 25, Leonov was posted to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, where he learned Spanish at the Autonomous University. In the course of the sea voyage, he met Raúl Castro
Raúl Castro
Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz is a Cuban politician and revolutionary who has been President of the Council of State of Cuba and the President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba since 2008; he previously exercised presidential powers in an acting capacity from 2006 to 2008...
, who was returning from the European Youth Festival. On arrival in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
he took up a junior post in the Soviet Embassy. It was at this time that he first met Che Guevara
Che Guevara
Ernesto "Che" Guevara , commonly known as el Che or simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist...
through Raúl Castro. Recalled to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in November 1956, Leonov was discharged from the foreign service, and deciding to pursue a career as a historian of Latin America, went to work as a translator for the official Soviet Spanish-language publishing house, Editorial Progreso. In the late summer of 1958 he was invited to join the KGB. On 1 September he began a two-year intelligence training course, that was interrupted, according to him, by the Cuban Revolution. In October 1959 his superiors ordered him to leave his studies and accompany Anastas Mikoyan to Mexico.
In 1955, Leonov met Che Guevara
Che Guevara
Ernesto "Che" Guevara , commonly known as el Che or simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. They had become friends two years previously at a European youth festival voyage. Leonov violated Russian embassy rules by visiting Guevara who was fascinated with Soviet life. After answering some of Guevara's questions, Leonov gave him Soviet literature. When Guevara went to the embassy to pick up the books the two men talked more, that was the last time they talked in Mexico
In February 1960, he accompanied Soviet Deputy Premier Anastas Mikoyan
Anastas Mikoyan
Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan was an Armenian Old Bolshevik and Soviet statesman during the rules of Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev, and Leonid Brezhnev....
on his visit to Havana, where he renewed his contact with Che, to whom he gave a precision marksman's pistol, "on behalf of the Soviet people". During the 1960s he served as a senior KGB officer stationed in Mexico. During the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
, he received regular reports from agents in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
with respect to American military preparations. He felt sure at the time that a nuclear confrontation would not be the result of the crisis. He served as interpreter on Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
's visit to the Soviet Union in 1963. In 1968 Leonov was recalled to Moscow, where he became a senior analyst. A report compiled by his office in 1975 recognised the growing peril to the power of the Soviet Union in geo-political terms, arguing that in keeping with the policy of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
before it, the Soviet Union should limit the commitment of its resources to a few key areas from which its power could operate in a more selective fashion. The report suggested establishing a Soviet foothold on the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
, in 'the most Marxist country' in the region, South Yemen. The report was returned to Leonov's office without Andropov's signature of approval. In the late 70s and early 80s he travelled frequently to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
to assess the situation and reportedly told the head of the KGB Yuri Andropov
Yuri Andropov
Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov was a Soviet politician and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 12 November 1982 until his death fifteen months later.-Early life:...
, in a heated discussion, that the prospects of Polish socialism looked bleak.
Between 1983 and January 1991, Leonov was Deputy Chief of the First Chief Directorate of the State Security Committee (KGB) of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, the second most important post within the KGB structure. Previously he was Sub-Director of the KGB’s Analysis and Information Department (1973-1982) and Sub-Director of its Latin American Department (1968-1972). Leonov has a Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Latin American History, from the USSR Academy of Sciences, and is author of the book Essays on Contemporary Central American History (Moscow: Academy of Sciences, 1973). In 1985 he published his memoirs under the title Difficult Times. As of 1998 he was a professor at the Institute of International Relations in Moscow.
In December 2003, Leonov was elected to the State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
, the lower house of the Russian parliament
Federal Assembly of Russia
The Federal Assembly of Russia is the legislature of the Russian Federation, according to the Constitution of Russian Federation, 1993...
, as a member of the nationalist Rodina
Rodina
Rodina or Motherland-National Patriotic Union was one of the four parties that controlled seats in the Russian legislature in 2003-2007...
party. He is closely identified with the current Kremlin
Kremlin
A kremlin , same root as in kremen is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there...
administration and is a long-time friend and mentor of his former KGB subordinate, former President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
.