KGB Active Measures
The KGB's systematic disinformation program to influence world opinion, including operations to blame the US for creating AIDS.
OVERVIEW
The KGB's 'active measures' program ran systematic disinformation, forgery, and media manipulation against the US and its allies. Operations included INFEKTION (blaming the US for AIDS), forging documents, spreading JFK assassination conspiracies, and infiltrating peace movements. The program was exposed by defectors Pacepa and Mitrokhin. Modern Russian intelligence continues similar operations.
KNOWN FACTS
Operation INFEKTION was documented by KGB defectors and declassified files
The Mitrokhin Archive documented thousands of pages of active measures
Declassified KGB documents confirm forgery of official documents
Modern Russian intelligence continues active measures
CLAIMS
The KGB created the story that the US invented AIDS (Operation INFEKTION)
The KGB forged documents to claim the US planned to attack Iran
The KGB spread JFK conspiracy theories
The KGB infiltrated Western peace movements
The active measures program continues through Russian intelligence today
EVIDENCE FOR
Operation INFEKTION was documented by KGB defectors and declassified files
The Mitrokhin Archive documented thousands of pages of active measures
Declassified KGB documents confirm forgery of official documents
Modern Russian intelligence continues active measures
EVIDENCE AGAINST
The AIDS story may have spread independently; KGB amplified existing rumors
JFK conspiracy theories existed before KGB involvement
Western intelligence also conducted disinformation
Some defector testimony may be exaggerated
OPEN QUESTIONS
No open questions recorded.
SOURCES
TIMELINE
Zinoviev Letter forgeries
Operation INFEKTION
Mitrokhin Archive revealed