Demjanjuk Trial Resumes With Testimony on KGB Forgeries
Document forgery is a well-known KGB specialty, an Israeli expert on Soviet intelligence methods testified today as the trial of accused Nazi war criminal John Demjanjuk resumed after a two-month recess.
Demjanjuk, 67, grinned at reporters as he was led from the courthouse and told them “Pretty good, thank you” when they asked how he was. The former Ohio auto worker’s trial was delayed eight weeks after a judge hearing the case suffered a heart attack.
Defense lawyers called on Avraham Shifrin during today’s court session to bolster their argument that Demjanjuk is being framed by the Soviets in Israel’s case alleging that he was the sadistic World War II Treblinka death camp guard “Ivan the Terrible.”
“The forgery of documents is probably the best known function of the KGB in the world,” said Shifrin. “The KGB produces any document that it requires.”
Shifrin was not allowed to present any evidence on the Demjanjuk ID card. He was limited by the judge to giving general testimony about KGB forgeries.
The card was provided by the Soviet Union, which said it was among Nazi documents seized in the aftermath of World War II. It was delivered to Israel by industrialist Armand Hammer, who has close ties with the Kremlin.
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