Igor Gouzenko

Igor Sergeyevich Gouzenko (1919, Soviet Union - 1982, Mississauga, Canada), Soviet ambassador with Ottawa, Ontario. He resigns on September 5th 1945 by carrying with him 190 documents which prove the existence of Soviet networks of Espionnage in Canada. This resignation will start a crisis which will mark the years of post-war period and the rise of the Canadian Anticommunisme during the Cold war. This event is often indicated by the expression " Gouzenko" business;.

Gouzenko business

In 1943, Gouzenko works with the cipher office of the Soviet embassy with Ottawa. It is at this place that he discovers the existence in Canada of several spy networks directed by the colonel Zabotin, a Soviet military attach3e of the embassy.

Disappointed Stalinism, Gouzenko decides to settle in Canada with its family. September 5th, 1945, it leaves the Soviet embassy and is presented to the Ottawa Journal where it tells its history. Considering the business too dangerous, the local newspaper invites the resigner rather to go, the following day, with the Ministère of Justice.

Following the event, Gouzenko is continued by the Soviet secret police. September 7th, the Canadian government grants the political asylum to Gouzenko and its family. During this time, the business remains secret, time that the government can accumulate evidence.

The revelations of the ex-ambassador lead to the arrest of Canadian Communist militants in 1946. The deputy Communiste Fred Pink is stopped in the wake of this business and is shown espionage.

The interrogations are carried out by the royal Commission of investigation Kellock-Taschereau (a special subcommittee created for the occasion) and the remarks collected confirm the existence of a vast Soviet spy network seeking, in particular, to obtain the secrecies of the atomic bomb.

Following the business, Igor Gouzenko changes identity regularly and saw with its family the area of Toronto under the protection of the police force. He was interviewed on television in 1966,20 years after his defection of the Soviet embassy. During its public appearances, Gouzenko covered its face of a mask or a bag perforated in order to dissimulate its identity.

References

Robert Bothwell, " Gouzenko, Igor Sergeievich" , in the encyclopedia of Canada , Montreal, international Editions Alain Stanké, vol. 2,1987.
Jacques Lacoursière and Helene-Andree Bizier, " A business of espionnage" , in Our Roots, alive history of the Inhabitants of Quebec , St-Laurent, Transmo Editions, chapter 133,1980-1983.
reg. Whitaker, " Espionage with the russe" , in Horizon Canada , St-Laurent, Quebec, the Center, vol. 112,1984-1987.

Internal bonds

External bond

"Gouzenko, a business of espionnage" , Files of Radio operator Canada
Site of the Communist party of Quebec

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