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Cryptonym: LIOVAL-1

Definition:

John Emil Blankeneagel, American friend of Soviet consul Pavel Yatskov in Mexico City.

Status:

Documented

Discussion:

This nickname probably came about because Blankeneagel and consul Pavel Yatskov liked to go icefishing together, see Oleg Nechiporekno's book Passport to Assassination. HQ suggests checking the LICALLA and LIENVOY records - this looks like an attempt to guide any researcher away from checking the LILYRIC records for the Soviet embassy. The importance of the LILYRIC records was that this was the most likely spot to have captured pictures of Oswald entering or exiting the embassy. This seems to indicate that the LILYRIC records were a hot topic even then. Note that the final entry (6/24/64 cable from Mexico City to Director) refers to LILYRIC on 9/30 and 10/1 but not on 9/27, even though the photos would be useful to determine if Yatskov was there that day. The MC office seems to be trying to avoid a discussion if Oswald appears or does not appear on the 9/27 LILYRIC photos!! Oswald allegedly came to the Sov consulate on 9/27 and 9/28 - there was no LILYRIC coverage on 9/28 because it was a Saturday. Most important is the admission by WH/1 Terry Ward that HQs hasn't known for the last eight months since 11/22 who Oswald talked to at the Soviet Consulate! It's an incredible admission. Between Oct. 1963-June 1964, the Mexico City station's story was that Oswald talked to Kostikov. This shows that that HQ appears to have been completely uncertain as to which Soviets Oswald had spoken with. The writer even makes a point of saying that Oswald "claimed" to have visited Soviet Embassy on Sept. 28. This would indicate the writer's uncertainty whether Oswald visited the Soviet Embassy at all on Sept. 28. All signs are that the Mexico City memo was written by Win Scott himself.

Sources:

104-10086-10001: MEXICO CITY CHRONOLOGY

Goodpasture's notes on MEXI 9948: "During Subject's (Subject is LIOVAL-1) (John Emil BLANKENEAGEL) 11-12 June 64 trip with Sov Consul Pavel Antonovich Yatskov (KGB), latter mentioned could do favor for Subj and import rifle free of duty from U.S. for Subj's hunting interests. Subj casually responded that Y could probably order one from KLEIN discount store Chicago. This caused Sov to ask Subj if though OSWALD actually Pres K's assassin. Subj definitely believed this true basis newspaper accounts. Y countered saying did not believe OSWALD involved and briefly explained his position by foll(owing): 'I met OSWALD here. He stormed into my office and wanted to introduce and recommend him to the Cubans. He told me that he had lived in the USSR. I told him that I would have to check before I could recommend him. He was nervous and his hands trembled, and he stormed out of my office. I don't believe that a person as nervous as OSWALD, whose hands trembled, could have accurately fired a rifle.' Above is full extent of Y's statement as recalled by Subj, who did not try to elicit further..."

104-10004-10184: REQUEST TO DETERMINE IF YATSKOV WAS IN MEXICO CITY DURING PERIOD OSWALD WAS THERE

6/23/64 WH/1 T. Ward to Mexico City, slugline RYBAT REDCOAT LIOVAL-1 GPFLOOR: "Pls check LICALLA and LIENVOY records try (to) determine if Yatskov was in Mexico City during period Oswald there and if Yatskov in Sov embassy Saturday 28 Sept, day which Oswald claimed had visited embassy and talked to consul...Also cable your views (on the) possibility (that) Oswald could have met Yatskov rather than or in addition to Kostikov."

104-10086-10001: MEXICO CITY CHRONOLOGY

6/12/67, memo prepared by Jonathan Weening: "Yatskov has stated that he talked to Oswald when he was in Mexico (ca. 28 Sept 63) and that he believed OSWALD was too nervous a person to have been able to shoot Pres. K. (Source: LIOVAL-1.)

104-10414-10342: LIST OF RECORDS AND FILES ON SUSPECT RIS OFFICERS

1/4/65 memo indicates that Yatskov was cultivating Blankeneagel.

104-10431-10083: CABLE: PLS CHECK LICALLA AND LIENVOY RECORDS TRY DETERMINE IF YATSKOV

6/24/64 cable from Director to Mexico City (DIR 30547): "Pls check LICALLA and LIENVOY records try determine if Yatskov was in Mexico City during period Oswald there and if Yatskov in Sov Embassy Saturday 28 Sept, day which Oswald claimed had visited embassy and talked to consul (Mexi 7025, 23 Nov), also cable your views (on) possibility Oswald could have met Yatskov rather than or in addition to Kostikov."

104-10436-10068: CABLE: FROM 27 SEPT LIENVOY, TIME LATE AFTERNOON PRIOR 1700 HOURS

6/24/64 response cable from Mexico City to Director (MEXI 0005, ref DIR 30547): This memo uses LILYRIC to track Yatskov's movements on 9/30 and 10/1, but not for Friday, Sept. 27, probably because that was the day that Oswald allegedly visited the Soviet consulate several times. The writer concludes: "Feel quite possible that Oswald spoke to Yatskov basis 1 Oct 63 LIENVOY: When Oswald spoke with Obyedkov, Oswald said had talked with a consul on Saturday, did not name Kostikov. It was Obyedkov who asked suggestively -- if it was K and Oswald said yes, possibly without thought. Direct HQs attention to this transcript, note however Kostikov has dark hair, Yatskov light brown and very grey at temples, giving appearance of almost white hair. Could also well be that Oswald first spoke with Kostikov who turned Oswald over to his boss Yatskov. Also, given the apparent frankness of Y's discussions with LIOVAL-1, particularly his views (about) Stalin and Khrushchev, would appear possible he tole L-1 truth re Oswald, at minimum re meeting Oswald."

104-10174-10065: FOLDER ON LOGANOV, VALENTIN SERGEYEVICH

5/31/68 contact report, re LIOVAL-1 (aka John Emil Blankeneagel, American friend of Soviet consul Pavel Yatskov in Mexico City): "(Subject's friend Donald Briggs, who taught Spanish and knew some Russian, was planning to visit.) Vidiella suggested that he, Subject, Briggs, and his (Vidiella's) good friend Valentin (Loginov) - as a group of Russian speakers - all get together for an evening. Vidiella suggested that they all go to his French girl friend's apartment and have a blast replete with girls and booze." More along this line at pp. 195-196.