Briefing
The Soviet Union’s real life James Bond, Dmitri Bystrolyotov, was one of the greatest Soviet spies of all time. Dmitri was a sailor, doctor, lawyer and artist recruited by Stalin for his dashing good looks and ease with languages to seduce secrets from willing targets during the 1920s and 30s. However, after falling out of Stalin’s favor, Dmitri was sentenced to the Gulag for 16 years. In this behind-the-scenes event you will see powerful artifacts from Bystrolyotov’s life in the Gulag donated by his family, meet the Museum’s Historian and Collections Manager, and hear from a panel of top experts on the subject of Stalin’s spies: Prof. Emil Draitser, author of Stalin’s Romeo Spy, on Bystrolyotov; journalist and author Stephen Schwartz on NKVD Recruitment of intellectuals; and Prof. Susan Weissman on Marc Zborowski, who spied on Trotskyites in France and the United States. Finally, hear commentary from Peter Katel of CQ Researcher who will recount his parents’ encounter with one of these spies. Book signing will be held immediately following the panel before speakers, staff, and guests continue the discussion over drinks with complementary light appetizers just around the corner at Riot Act Comedy Theater.
For more information on Emil Draitser’s book, Stalin’s Romeo Spy, visit: www.stalinsromeospy.com/
In cooperation with the Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies.