</s>104-10218-10008 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 MATERIAL REVIEWED AT CIA HEADQUARTERS: BY HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINTATIONS STAFF MEMBERS FILE TITLE/NUMBER/VOLUME: LEDNOV, NIKOLAY SERGEYEVICH 201-132139 VOL.17 INCLUSIVE DATES: CUSTODIAL UNIT/LOCATION: ROOM: DELETONS, IF ANY: THIRD AGENCY DOCUMENTS DATE DATE RECEIVED RETURNED REVIEWED BY (PRINT NAME) SIGNATURE OF REVIEWING OFFICIAL NOT REVIEWEO BY nSCA 66 NO DOCUMENTS MAY BE COPIED OR REMOVED FROM THIS FILE -1.4/2319

Summary  
The document details the activities of Nikolay Sergeyevich Leonov, a Soviet KGB officer stationed in Mexico from 1953 to 1968, with roles as cultural attache, press attaché, and clandestine operative supporting Latin American revolutionary movements. His work included coordination with Cuban exiles, Guatemalan Communists, and Mexican military officers involved in arms trafficking for guerrilla groups. Leonov maintained contact with Fidel Castro during Castro’s exile in Mexico (1953–1956) and later facilitated communication between revolutionary networks in Cuba, Guatemala, and Mexico. His operations involved smuggling weapons, maintaining informant networks, and monitoring U.S.-Soviet relations. The text references intercepted communications, surveillance reports, and KGB operational files (e.g., HEMA-33293, HMA-6403). A 1975 CIA document mentions an "assassination" context but lacks specific details. Administrative notes reference U.S. intelligence handling of Soviet records, including file numbers like 201-132139 and internal routing instructions.  

Key People  
- **Nikolay Sergeyevich Leonov**: KGB officer in Mexico (1953–1968), involved in clandestine support for Latin American revolutionaries.  
- **Fidel Castro**: Cuban revolutionary leader with whom Leonov had contact during his exile in Mexico.  
- **Ricardo Miranda**: Guatemalan Communist and revolutionary linked to Leonov’s arms smuggling operations.  
- **Loreno Cardenas**: Mexican army officer involved in arms trafficking for Guatemalan revolutionaries; had clandestine contact with Leonov.  
- **Victor Manuel Gutierrez**: Guatemalan exile in Mexico who acted as a Soviet intermediary.  
- **Luis Guarz Lopez**: Spanish Communist journalist and press attaché contact for Leonov.  
- **DULAUREL-1**: Designation for an individual involved in arranging private conversations with Leonov and Soviet authorities.  
- **FERNANDEZ MALDONADO**: Minister of Energy and Mines referenced in a torn letter recovered from a hotel room occupied by Soviet personnel.  

Key Locations  
- **Mexico City, Mexico**: Primary base for Leonov’s operations, including his residence and Soviet Embassy.  
- **Cuba**: Site of meetings with Cuban exiles and revolutionary activities.  
- **Guatemala**: Focus of Leonov’s support for Communist guerrilla groups (e.g., the Guatemalan Communist Party).  
- **Peru**: Mentioned as a destination for Leonov’s 1969 trip via Bogotá.  
- **Hotel room (occupied by Soviet personnel)**: Location where a torn letter related to an interview between Leonov and FERNANDEZ MALDONADO was recovered.  

Key Events  
- **1953–1968**: Leonov’s tenure in Mexico, coordinating with Latin American revolutionaries and maintaining KGB operations.  
- **1956**: Interrogation of Fidel Castro by British authorities, with Leonov’s calling card discovered.  
- **1962**: Ricardo Miranda’s trip to Mexico to deliver a message to Gutierrez, linked to Leonov’s network.  
- **1963–1968**: Clandestine contacts between Leonov and Cardenas, including correspondence and surveillance.  
- **December 1968**: Leonov’s permanent departure from Mexico to the USSR.  
- **June 1975**: CIA document referencing an "assassination" context (details unspecified).  
- **Recovery of a torn letter**: Found in a hotel room occupied by Soviet personnel, potentially related to Leonov and FERNANDEZ MALDONADO.  

Key Organizations  
- **KGB (Soviet Union)**: Central intelligence agency utilizing Leonov’s network for espionage and revolutionary support.  
- **Cuban Communist Party**: Collaborated with Leonov through exiled contacts in Mexico.  
- **Guatemalan Communist Party (POT)**: Target of Leonov’s clandestine operations, including arms smuggling and communication facilitation.  
- **Movimiento Latinoamericano de Libertación**: Revolutionary group connected to Leonov’s network.  
- **CIA**: Mentioned in a 1975 document discussing an "assassination" context.  
- **CIDCO (Central Intelligence Directorate)**: Reference to U.S. intelligence coordination officers (e.g., C//H1/3, C/HA/3).  
- **WH/B (office reference)**: Administrative designation for U.S. government offices handling classified documents.

JFK Declassified Files

104-10218-10008.pdf

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