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Felix KrutikovConfidant of Anastas Mikoyan |
Biography of Felix Krutikov
Felix Krutikov was born into a prominent Soviet family and grew up in a privileged environment. His father was a high-ranking government official, serving as the deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. Despite his privileged upbringing, Felix was not part of the "golden youth" in the literal sense. At the age of twelve, his father sent him to a military naval school to protect him from the influence of children from the neighborhood.
During World War II, Felix's school was relocated to Baku and transformed into a military academy for naval infantry. However, Felix did not have the opportunity to fight in the war. Instead, he was transferred to intelligence due to his exceptional language skills. After the war, in 1947, he enrolled in the Institute of Foreign Trade.
Upon completing his studies, Felix obtained a prestigious position as an assistant to the Minister of Foreign Trade, Anastas Mikoyan. He became Mikoyan's trusted aide, gaining access to all important information and decisions. However, his close proximity to Mikoyan eventually led to his downfall.
When Ivan Serov, the newly appointed Chairman of the KGB, personally conducted an interrogation of an arrested individual, the only detail that interested him was how long Felix had stood in front of a café. This seemingly insignificant detail became a crucial factor in Felix's downfall.
A few months prior to this incident, Victor Petrov and his wife, Captain Evdokia Petrova, arrived in Paris. They were unique individuals with mysterious spy backgrounds and close ties to Lavrentiy Beria. Their presence in Paris set the stage for the subsequent events involving Felix.
Petrov invited Felix and another colleague from the residency to a restaurant near the Bois de Boulogne. Under normal circumstances, such outings were only allowed in groups of three or more for special occasions. Petrov claimed it was his daughter's birthday, and no one bothered to verify the truth. However, Petrov and the other colleague never returned after leaving for the restroom, leaving Felix alone in the restaurant.
Felix, unaware of Petrov's true intentions, waited for his return and smoked a cigarette while standing outside the restaurant. Little did he know that this seemingly innocent act would be used against him as evidence. According to the rules, he was not allowed to be alone during that time.
Felix, realizing something was amiss, went back to the Soviet embassy in Paris. However, he was immediately arrested and taken to the Lubyanka Prison. The charges against him were related to his alleged collaboration with foreign intelligence agencies.
After several months of investigation, during which Felix refused to provide any incriminating information, the authorities decided to change their approach. They accused Felix of planning to defect to the West and collaborate with foreign intelligence agencies. In July 1954, he was convicted by a military tribunal and sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment.
Felix spent the next six years doing hard labor in the coal mines of Vorkuta, earning an additional sentence for his involvement in the Vorkuta labor camp uprising. He became a brigadier of a Lithuanian brigade composed of "forest brothers," Russians who fought against Soviet authorities. Meanwhile, his father was removed from his high-ranking position and expelled from the Communist Party for "unparty-like behavior."
Felix was eventually released and rehabilitated on November 25, 1960, thanks to the personal intervention of Anastas Mikoyan. Despite the injustice he had faced, Felix chose not to seek compensation or join organizations advocating for justice. He lived the rest of his life quietly, never seeking recognition or special treatment. The only acknowledgment of the injustice he endured was a note in his work record stating, "On foreign assignment until 1960."
Felix Krutikov's story, like many others, remains shrouded in secrecy and hidden in the archives of the Russian intelligence agencies. It serves as a reminder of the moral principles that were often disregarded during that time, even amidst the great achievements of the Soviet era.
