The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

suggested that he thoroughly clean the car of any remaining evidence, wipe fingerprints,attach a Soviet embassy diplomatic license plate, and drive the car to a deserted area in theKutesangin region, where he would find a dry riverbed, remove the plates, and abandon thecar. Then he would rendezvous with Bubnov, who would drive him back to the embassy.Ivanov and Osadchiy considered the proposal too risky. The resident suggested a planof his own.“One of our trade representative staff members, someone named Baranov, owns awhite Toyota Crown of the same model. I’ll make arrangements with him and we’ll driveour cars to Valery’s house by the end of the day. We’ll pretend that we are having a dinnerparty at your place. While that’s happening, we’ll switch Baranov’s license plate with theother Toyota’s. Then Baranov will drive the Afghan car into the Residency’s section of theembassy’s garage. I will follow him. Once there, I’ll pick him up, along with the license plate,and return to Valery’s, at which point we will pretend to resume our dinner party againafter having brought the additional party stuff. At night Baranov will leave in his car and I’llleave in mine. During the same night our technicians will dismantle the Afghan Toyota andbury the parts on the embassy territory adjacent to the garage.”Boris Semyonovich agreed with that plan, but asked that they keep the “dinner party”cover-up low key. “Otherwise I would want to join you,” he joked to Osadchiy. “By the way,what sort of person is Baranov?”“Just a regular member of the trade representative,” was Osadchiy’s vague reply.“Will he agree to participate in this operation?”“Of course he will agree. What choice does he have? We know too much about him. Hewould not decline to do such a small favor for us.”582