Aleksandr Barchenko

Aleksandr Vasilevich Barchenko (Russian Cyrillic: Александр Васильевич Ба́рченко; March 25, 1881 - April 25, 1938) was a Russian Soviet parapsychology researcher, occultist, and writer, noted for his work on behalf of the OGPU, successor to the Cheka, 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)
 * 1917-20, formally associated with Institute of Brain and Higher Nervous Activity (Институт мозга и высшей нервной деятельности), All-Union Institute of Experimental Medicine of the OGPU. His expertise in occult matters and unusual phenomena made Barchenko a top adviser in the Soviet quest to discover psychic means of influencing the masses.
 * 1921-23, expedition to Kola Peninsula to search out Hyperborean remnants among the local Sami shamans. Barchenko claimed to have found extensive evidence of Hyperborean ruins in the region, including pyramids and a vast hole in the earth.
 * 1923, began work as academic advisor, founded the esoteric society "United Brotherhood of Labor"
 * 1926, expedition to Crimea, cave explorations.
 * 1929-1930, expedition to Altai.
 * 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 "United Brotherhood of Labor" (classified as a "Masonic counterrevolutionary terrorist organization"), spying for Britain.

Resources

 * (in Russian) Biography, "Барченко Александр Васильевич (1881–1938)" (library.lipetsk.ru) &mdash; short biography of Barchenko, jumping off points for further study.
 * (in English) "The Bolshevik's Occult War" (espionagehistoryarchive.com) &mdash; overview of OGPU and Barchenko's research