Yu. V. Andropov in the memoirs of G. N. Kupriyanov, the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (of Bolsheviks) of the Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic

This article about Yu. V. Andropov draws on both published and unpublished memoirs by G. N. Kupriyanov, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (of Bolsheviks) of the Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic. Kupriyanov’s unpublished materials, including monographs, brochures, and articles, have been transferred to the National Archives of the Republic of Karelia and constitute a distinct authorial collection. Until recently, these extensive and interesting documents have not been the subject of special research. Through an analysis of Kupriyanov’s historical heritage, the author of this article reveals why the portrayal of Andropov shifts from a positive image in Kupriyanov’s published memoirs to a negative assessment in his unpublished works. This study debunks many enduring “myths” about Andropov that continue to circulate in the Russian media. Overall, this article makes a significant contribution to the Russian historiography of the life and work of Yu. V Andropov, a prominent statesman and political figure in the USSR.