Documentation specific to this topic is not currently available to the DIRB. Oral sources, however, provided related information.

The director of the Russian Research Centre at Harvard University indicated that, although he did not know specifically whether persons employed in space research had to sign a document attesting that they did not have relatives outside of the Soviet Union, generally authorities verified that persons who were to be employed in work of a military nature, including research, did not have relatives outside of the Soviet Union (23 Feb. 1993).

According to a professor specializing in Soviet history at Yale University, persons in the Soviet Union who were employed in any activity that was even remotely related to the military were not supposed to have relatives outside of the country and were prohibited from meeting foreigners (24 Feb. 1993). It is probable that this would be the case with persons employed in space research (Ibid.). He indicated further that the application of this policy was often taken to "absurd lengths" (Ibid.). In reference to the question of possible penalties, the source stated that a person who had violated the policy would have lost his/her job. Depending on the importance of the person's work and the nature of his/her contact with foreigners or relatives residing abroad, it is also conceivable that KGB would have had a "conversation" with the him/her which may have led to more serious repercussions (Ibid.).

Additional and/or corroborating information on this topic is not currently available to the DIRB.

Director of Russian Research Centre, Harvard University. 24 February 1993. Telephone Interview.

Professor Specializing in Soviet History, Yale University. 23 February 1993. Telephone Interview.