THE CITY OF MOSCOW



DECLASSIFIED
Urgent
Top Secret         
Of a special importance
__________________________


January 13, 1971
#80-A/ov

TO THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF CPSU

	I report that on December 28, 1970, Academician A.D. 
Sakharov sent a letter addressed to the Chairman of the 
Supreme Soviet of USSR, Comrade Podgorny, and to the 
President of the USA, R. NIXON, in which, while joining the 
Soviet scientists who had published a letter in defense of

ANGELA DAVIS, he expressed the hope that the American court 
will consider her case with absolute impartiality. At the 
same time, addressing himself to Comrade Podgorny, Sakharov 
claimed that those convicted in Leningrad of an attempt to 
hijack a plane had been motivated by the authorities’ 
restriction” of the legal right of tens of thousands of 
Jews to leave the country", and he categorically rejected 
"the charge of treason, as having no connection to the act 
committed by the defendants".
	In view of the fact that Sakharov had given a 
politically incorrect assessment of the decision of the 
Soviet court, the copy of his letter sent to NIXON was 
confiscated by us. However, Sakharov had given another copy 
of the letter to Chalidze, a member of the staff of the All-
Union Research Institute of Plastics, who transmitted it, 
through foreign correspondents in Moscow, to the West, where 
it has been published.
	On January 11 of this year, the International Telegraph 
Office received an answering telegram (enclosed) from the US 
Department of State in which the American side offers 
Sakharov  assistance in coming to the United States to 
"observe" the court hearing of the case of ANGELA DAVIS.
	We have delayed delivery of the telegram for the time 
being.
	Taking into account that the fact that the US 
Department of State has sent Sakharov this telegram may 
become known to the Western press, we deem it expedient to 
forward the telegram to the addressee.
	We ask you to consider this proposal.

	CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE FOR STATE SECURITY


The Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Central Committee

MEETING OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF CPSU

(Minutes #189 from January 14, 1971)

To be returned, not later than in 7
days, to 1st Section of the General
Department of the Central Committee
of CPSU


6.  A report of the Committee for State Security from January 13, 1971, #80-A/ov.


	To agree with suggestions presented in the memorandum.  

	To be sent to:

	Comrade Andropov