The secrets of the Afghan war to be revealed in the Presidential Library by ex-intelligence officer Igor Morozov

On May 17, 2023 at 17:00 Moscow time the Presidential Library will host a presentation of Igor Morozov’s book “The World Chess Game. Afghan Zugzwang”. It will be presented by the author himself - a well-known political scientist, chairman of the coordinating committee for economic cooperation with African countries - AFROCOM, a veteran of foreign intelligence, a specialist in the Middle East and Africa, from October 2017 to November 2022 - a senator of the Russian Federation.

The Afghan theme for Igor Nikolaevich Morozov, a participant in hostilities, has always been in the focus. The “World Chess Game. Afghan Zugzwang” reveals the plan of the American political strategist Zbigniew Brzezinski to draw the Soviet Union into the war in Afghanistan. In 1979, US President Jimmy Carter signed the CIA's covert war in Afghanistan "Cyclone" directive. This operation to support the Afghan Mujahideen largely predetermined the duration of the Afghan war for the USSR. The withdrawal of a limited contingent of Soviet troops from Afghanistan ended only on February 5, 1989. Later, in 2010, this day was declared the Day of Remembrance for Russians who performed their duty outside the Fatherland.

When creating the book “The World Chess Game. Afghan Zugzwang” Igor Morozov used information from the declassified archives of the US State Department, the stories of participants in these events and personal impressions received while working in Afghanistan. The book is written in the genre of a political detective story, it presents both little-known facts about the involvement of the Soviet Union in the Afghan war, and exciting stories about the activities of Soviet intelligence officers. 

The event is free. The meeting will be broadcast on the Presidential Library’s portal in the "Live broadcasts" section in accordance with the program of live events, on the Rutube-channel of the institution, as well as on the social networks VKontakte and Odnoklassniki.

To participate in the event please go through electronic registration on the Presidential Library’s portal by 10:00 on May 15, 2023 using the link.

Accreditation of media representatives is until 14:00 May 16, 2023.

Please forward applications for accreditation following the attached form marked “Media Accreditation” at media@prlib.ru, pechnikova@prlib.ru, Tatyana Pechnikova, tel. (812) 305-16-21, (ext. 534); mob. +7 921 998-06-78.

The letter should contain the full name, date and place of birth, passport data (series, number, place of registration), a list of carry-on equipment, contact phone numbers, the name of the media.

We draw the attention of the media representatives that it is necessary to forward applications for accreditation and arrive at the event in advance.

Entrance to the Presidential Library is carried out only by prior registration and upon showing a passport: for media representatives - through entrance № 2, participants and guests of the event - through entrance № 1.

In order to reduce the risks of the spread of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the use of personal protective equipment during the event is mandatory for all attendees.