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Armenian Mark in the Foreign Intelligence Service of USSR
The star of KGB shined the brightest in the foreign intelligence field where it was recognized as the best in the world even by its enemies. Significant contribution to KGB’s success in the foreign intelligence field was made also by the Armenian citizens of USSR. In fact, out of 15 major ethnic groups of former USSR no other ethnic group (apart from Russians) has contributed to the foreign intelligence as much as the Armenians have. They were there from the very beginning and they are there today as well, now making the star of SVR and GRU to shine all over the world.
Below are only a handful of names and very short bios. There are many, many more Armenians who have served and are serving in the Foreign Intelligence Services of Russia and of course of Armenia but for obvious reasons no other details are available.
Their contributions are enormous and can not be summed up in a few sentences. We are very proud of our grand fathers, fathers and brothers who choose to serve their country be it USSR, Russian Federation or the Republic of Armenia.
Davtyan Hakob Kristapori
Born in 1888 in Nakhichevan.
In 1920 he began working in the NKVD (predecessor of KGB). In the same year he became the first head of the newly created Foreign Intelligence Service of USSR (predecessor of SVR). He held that position for two years and then established and headed Soviet spy networks in a number of countries, including Poland, France and China. In 1938 he became a victim of Stalin’s purges and was murdered.
Katanyan Ruben Paveli
Born in 1881 in Tbilisi.
In 1921 he became the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of USSR (FIS). He was the second head of the service and second Armenian to head that service. In 1922 became the Council General of USSR in Berlin, Germany. A few years later he was back in Russia where he became the head of a top secret agency coordinating all other intelligence agencies. In 1938 he became a victim of Stalin’s purges and spent 17 years in Siberian Gulags. In 1955 he was rehabilitated and freed. Until his death in 1966 he was a university professor.
Agayantz Hovhaness Hovhanessi
Born in 1911 in Gandzak.
In 1930 he joined NKVD. Apart from Russian and Armenian he was fluent in 6 (six) other languages: French, Farsi, Turkish, Spanish, English and Italian.
From 1936 onwards he worked in the Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS). In 1937 he was in charge of the French network then in 1941 he was sent to Iran as the head of the Iranian network. In that capacity he was personally responsible in preventing the terrorist act against Churchill and Roosevelt in Teheran. In 1967 he was the second in charge of the Foreign Intelligence Service. He died in 1968.
Hovakimyan Hayk Badali
Born in 1898 in Nakhichevan.
In 1931 he became the first head of the newly formed Scientific and Technical Espionage Department by the USSR Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS). Between 1934 and 1938 he was in USA in charge of all the agents of the FIS in that country. Between 1941 and 1947 he held a number of very senior positions within the FIS. He died in 1967.
Gurgenyan Vyacheslav Hovhanessi
Born in 1935 in Grozny.
In 1963 he joined the Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS). From 1965 until 1983 (for 18 years) he was in charge of the entire intelligence network first in India then in Pakistan. From 1983 to 1989 he was in Moscow at FIS HQ as the third highest officer in charge of the agency. From 1991 he was the vice director of the FIS, second highest officer in charge of the agency. He died from natural causes in 1994.
SVR
GRU
The star of KGB shined the brightest in the foreign intelligence field where it was recognized as the best in the world even by its enemies. Significant contribution to KGB’s success in the foreign intelligence field was made also by the Armenian citizens of USSR. In fact, out of 15 major ethnic groups of former USSR no other ethnic group (apart from Russians) has contributed to the foreign intelligence as much as the Armenians have. They were there from the very beginning and they are there today as well, now making the star of SVR and GRU to shine all over the world.
Below are only a handful of names and very short bios. There are many, many more Armenians who have served and are serving in the Foreign Intelligence Services of Russia and of course of Armenia but for obvious reasons no other details are available.
Their contributions are enormous and can not be summed up in a few sentences. We are very proud of our grand fathers, fathers and brothers who choose to serve their country be it USSR, Russian Federation or the Republic of Armenia.
Davtyan Hakob Kristapori
Born in 1888 in Nakhichevan.
In 1920 he began working in the NKVD (predecessor of KGB). In the same year he became the first head of the newly created Foreign Intelligence Service of USSR (predecessor of SVR). He held that position for two years and then established and headed Soviet spy networks in a number of countries, including Poland, France and China. In 1938 he became a victim of Stalin’s purges and was murdered.
Katanyan Ruben Paveli
Born in 1881 in Tbilisi.
In 1921 he became the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of USSR (FIS). He was the second head of the service and second Armenian to head that service. In 1922 became the Council General of USSR in Berlin, Germany. A few years later he was back in Russia where he became the head of a top secret agency coordinating all other intelligence agencies. In 1938 he became a victim of Stalin’s purges and spent 17 years in Siberian Gulags. In 1955 he was rehabilitated and freed. Until his death in 1966 he was a university professor.
Agayantz Hovhaness Hovhanessi
Born in 1911 in Gandzak.
In 1930 he joined NKVD. Apart from Russian and Armenian he was fluent in 6 (six) other languages: French, Farsi, Turkish, Spanish, English and Italian.
From 1936 onwards he worked in the Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS). In 1937 he was in charge of the French network then in 1941 he was sent to Iran as the head of the Iranian network. In that capacity he was personally responsible in preventing the terrorist act against Churchill and Roosevelt in Teheran. In 1967 he was the second in charge of the Foreign Intelligence Service. He died in 1968.
Hovakimyan Hayk Badali
Born in 1898 in Nakhichevan.
In 1931 he became the first head of the newly formed Scientific and Technical Espionage Department by the USSR Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS). Between 1934 and 1938 he was in USA in charge of all the agents of the FIS in that country. Between 1941 and 1947 he held a number of very senior positions within the FIS. He died in 1967.
Gurgenyan Vyacheslav Hovhanessi
Born in 1935 in Grozny.
In 1963 he joined the Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS). From 1965 until 1983 (for 18 years) he was in charge of the entire intelligence network first in India then in Pakistan. From 1983 to 1989 he was in Moscow at FIS HQ as the third highest officer in charge of the agency. From 1991 he was the vice director of the FIS, second highest officer in charge of the agency. He died from natural causes in 1994.
SVR
GRU
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