Soviet Vladimir Kryuchkov passed away

[Christian Zulus]

Gentlemen,

Vladimir Alexandrovich Kryuchkov died at the 23rd of november 2007:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Kryuchkov

Wise guy, who had been a close friend to Markus "Misha" Wolf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markus_Wolf and who supported Putin's career as a KGB-officer.

Kryuchkov's patron had been Yuri Andropov http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Andropov .

Does anyone know, why he died so (rather) young (only 83 years old ...) - what was his "unspecified illness" ?

Best regards

Christian

[seb16trs]

83 years is quite a correct age (if there could be aynone), and it is even a nice "statistic" if you compare to average russian population... and a lot of soviet elite died earlier, between 65-75 years (look at Chernenko, Brejnev, Joukov or ...Eltsin!).

what have been the sanctions pronounced against him for supporting the 1991 coup?

Edited November 28, 2007 by seb16trs

[Paul L Murphy]

If I make it anywhere close to 83 I will be very happy !

As an aside, one of the items in my collection is a gramata to a long service KGB officer signed by Kryuchkov in the late 80's.

Paul

[Ulsterman]

I'll bet he had some interesting stories to tell.

[Sergey]

The person which wished to stop wreck and disorder of the USSR..

The World and calmness its shower

[Christian Zulus]

what have been the sanctions pronounced against him for supporting the 1991 coup?

Following the failed coup attempt, Kryuchkov was imprisoned for his participation. However, in 1994 the State Duma freed him in an amnesty.

Some surviving members of the "Gang of Eight" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_of_Eight...Soviet_Union%29 - as Marshal Yazov - received recently high orders & medals from the Russian Federation by President Putin. Officially NOT for the coup attempt, but for other great deeds towards the Russian Army and the Russian State .

Best regards

Christian

BTW: My grandmother, who lives in my house, is now 99 years old and at excellent health ...

[Ed_Haynes]

You'd like to think there has been someone active out there collecting oral histories from this generation but, in the current climate, I doubt it. Sad for future generations of historians.

[Christian Zulus]

You'd like to think there has been someone active out there collecting oral histories from this generation but, in the current climate, I doubt it. Sad for future generations of historians.

Dear Ed,

I have no doubt, that a handful of historians in Russia are collecting oral histories of such historic figures - at least i hope so .

Marshals Yazov's notes, he wrote during his imprisonment, had been offered some time ago by a well known dealer.

Best regards

Christian

[Andwwils]

83, for a man, especially someone who held a "high-stress" job for the better part of his life, is not a bad age. Sure, people live to be 100 or more, but most don't. Soviet leaders are no exception. L. Kaganovich lived to be 97, Zhandov: 52. Age obviously depends upon a variety of factors.

[Christian Zulus]

Zhandov: 52.

He killed himself by massive and constant abuse of alcohol .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_Zhdanov

He would had been Stalin's successor ...

Best regards

Christian

[Andwwils]

"He killed himself by massive and constant abuse of alcohol ."

One of the occupational hazards of politburo membership during Stalin's time .