Aleksandr Barchenko

Aleksandr Vasilevich Barchenko (Russian Cyrillic: Александр Васильевич Ба́рченко; 1881 - April 25, 1938) was a Russian Soviet parapsychology researcher, occultist, and writer, noted for his work on behalf of the OGPU in the study of mass hypnosis and occult teachings.

Background

 * 1905-1909, travelled across Russia, parts of Central Asia, India.
 * 1909-1917, wrote for Russian journals on occult subject matter, published "Доктор Чёрный" ['Dr. Black'] (1913), "Из мрака" ['Out of the Darkness'] (1914), "Волны жизни" ['Waves of Life'] (1914)
 * 1917, Institute of Brain and Higher Nervous Activity (Институт мозга и высшей нервной деятельности), joined a special department of the OGPU under G.I. Bokii.
 * 1920s, expedition to Kola Peninsula, Lovozero and Seidozero, to study psychic phenomena, hypnosis.
 * 1923, began work as academic advisor, founded the esoteric society "Unified Labor Brotherhood"
 * Ongoing studies of occult matters, interest in Shambhala, Tibetan wisdom.
 * 1937 (May 21), arrested for conspiracy.
 * 1938 (April 25), executed after being found guilty for his creation and involvement with "Unified Labor Brotherhood" (now classified as a "Masonic counterrevolutionary terrorist organization"), spying for England.