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Iskhak Abdulovich Akhmerov ( ) (1901–1976) was a highly decorated OGPU/NKVD (KGB) Soviet Union security officer, best known to historians for his role in KGB operations in the United States 1942–1945. His name appears in the Venona Project over fifty times, often as signatory, and on his return to the Soviet Union in 1945/46, he rose to deputy chief of the KGB's 'illegal' intelligence section. (NOTE: Many details from Haynes and Klehr's Venona come from Veterany Vneshnei Razvedki Rossii Moscow:, which forms the basis of their profile of him in their book's Appendix E.)
He joined the Bolshevik Party in 1919, and attended the Communist University of the Toilers of the East and the First State University, where he graduated from the School of International Relations in 1930.
In 1932, Akhmerov transferred to the foreign intelligence division ("INO") of the NKVD and served as a 'legal' intelligence officer under diplomatic cover in Turkey.
In 1934, he transferred to China, where he served as an "Illegals Program" field officer.
In 1935, he entered the United States with false identity papers. He recruited agents in the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Treasury, and U.S. intelligence services. In 1939, he was transferred back to the Soviet Union. By 1942, Akhmerov had become chief illegal Resident spy in the United States during World War II. American agents he ran for the Soviets include Laurence Duggan, Mary Price, and Michael Straight (the last knew Akhmerov as "Michael Green"). Places he likely lived during that time include New York City and Baltimore.
According to Pavel Sudoplatov, Akhmerov ran one of five spy rings targeting the United States for atomic bomb secrets. The Akhmerov led ring targeted United States Communist Party members for the Kremlin's needs.
In 1945, Akhmerov returned again to the Soviet Union to become deputy chief of the KGB's 'illegal' intelligence section (отдел нелегальной разведки). He attained the rank of colonel.
Hede Massing describes a Soviet rezident in the United States named "Bill Grinke," "Bill," and "Walter Grinke," whom she describes as a "pedestrian" man, looking about 40 years old, who took her on from Valentin Markin at the end of 1934. When Massing reported her encounters with Noel Field, she was reporting to "Bill": she had met Field through Daily Worker journalist Marguerite Young. By "May or June 1935," another rezident named "Fred" had taken over from "Bill," at which point she began to "develop" Field. In January or February 1937, just before Ignace Reiss defected from the Soviet underground, Massing received an assignment to spy on Ludwig Lore, and "Bill" resumed her management.
Scholars John Earl Haynes and Harvey Klehr report that the FBI considered Elizabeth Bentley's "Bill" to be Akhmerov.
Scholar Raymond W. Raymond stated that "Walter Grinke" was known to Whittaker Chambers and Elizabeth Bentley as "Bill" – and that he worked for Amtorg.
He married Helen Lowry (AKA "Elza Akhmerova"), a niece of the CPUSA General Secretary Earl Browder and who also worked for Soviet intelligence. She was also a "full partner" in his espionage.
He died in 1976.
On April 16, 2015, a monument for Akhmerov was unveiled at the Scarlet Field in Chelyabinsk.
A monument to him and his wife was created in Tatarstan By the artist Rim Akchurin that features the Brooklyn Bridge, symbolizing his espionage work in New York, as well as the kremlins of Moscow and Kazan.
Aliases
Akhmerov is known to have used the cover names "William Grienke", "Michael Green", "Michael Adamec", and several others while in the United States. His code names in the Venona project decrypts of Soviet intelligence messages are MAYOR and ALBERT.
Personal and death
Akhmerov spoke Turkish, English and French.
Awards
Akhmerov received the Order of the Red Banner twice, the Order of the Badge of Honor, and the badge of Honored Chekist.
Legacy
On April 7, 2011, a memorial plaque was unveiled in honor of the 110th anniversary of Akhmerov's birth.
Venona
As chief of KGB in the US during WWII, Akhmerov's name appears on many decrypted Venona Project documents, as does his wife. During WWII, he served as one of three major contacts for comrade Vasily Zarubin. He also ran the Perlo group of Victor Perlo, which had reported previously to Jacob Golos and Elizabeth Bentley. Cables also mention the Silvermaster group under Nathan Gregory Silvermaster.
Notes
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