Soviet Saga of Seduction and Shakedown : Sexy ‘Robot’ Is Convicted of Blackmail

A young blonde known as “the Robot” has been convicted of blackmail and extortion in the Soviet republic of Uzbekistan, and a number of high officials have been dismissed for consorting with her.

Vostokha Pravda, the Uzbekistan party newspaper, which is published in Tashkent, disclosed the saga of seduction and shakedown in a full-page article. The incident was brought to light on the heels of allegations that Soviet women in Moscow seduced U.S. Marines and then enlisted their help in stealing embassy secrets.

“The Robot,” described as an 18-year-old beauty, was hired by a former policeman to lure officials into bed, the newspaper said. Once they were maneuvered into a compromising position, a photographer sprang from a closet and took pictures of them. At this point, the former policeman appeared in his old uniform and opened negotiations for hush money.

At least half a dozen officials, including farm directors, scientists and party figures, were caught in the Robot’s costly embrace. They paid from 4,000 to 10,000 rubles ($6,280 to $15,700 at the official exchange rate), the newspaper said.

The young woman was said to have been trained for three months and to have replaced two other women, both 30, who were considered too old.

According to the newspaper, she was ensnared in the ex-policeman’s schemes when he photographed her in the nude and then threatened to circulate the pictures in her home city of Andizhan unless she worked with him.

She earned her nickname by obeying orders without question and working without letup at any time of the day or night. Unlike factory robots, she was well paid. In one shakedown, the newspaper said, her share was 1,000 rubles ($1,570).

The director of several retail stores in Uzbekistan was trapped twice, according to the account.