

Former Soviet agent Igor Atamanenko just dropped a state secret bomb on us all, disclosing that Joseph Stalin used to spy on Mao Zedong’s stool samples, and even had an entire laboratory for the purpose of analysing the faeces of his enemies.

According to Atamanenko, who purportedly unearthed evidence of the operation while conducting research in the Russian secret services archives, Mao’s shit was snatched during his visit to Moscow in December of 1949, a trip organised for the purpose of securing a partnership with the Soviet Union.



Unbeknownst to Mao, Stalin’s secret police had specifically installed toilets for him that were disconnected from the rest of the sewerage, in order to collect his droppings and uncover its secrets. Here’s Atamanenko’s breakdown of such practices:

In those days the Soviets didn’t have the kind of listening devices which secret services do today. That’s why our specialists came up with the most extravagant ways of extracting information about a person.

For example, if they detected high levels of amino acid Tryptophan, they concluded that person was calm and approachable. But a lack of potassium in poo was seen as a sign of a nervous disposition and someone with insomnia.

Evidently Mao’s fecal matter didn’t impress, considering that after 10 days (of stool spying), Stalin decided not to sign the proposed agreement with China.

Ironically, Mao hadn’t enjoyed his stay in Russia, having been lowkey held captive and, suspecting his residence of being bugged, ranted at the walls, “I am here to do more than eat and shit!” LITTLE DID HE KNOW.

Also, interestingly enough, Mao was said to have refused to use the flush toilet adjoining his room, preferring instead to squat over a chamber pot he had brought from China. MAYBE HE DID SUSPECT SOMETHING?



According to Atamanenko’s sources, the lavatorial laboratory was headed by a Lavrenti Beria, to whom Stalin specifically entrusted with the lofty responsibility.

Later, Stalin’s successor Nikita Khrushchev purportedly put a stop to the whole thing and shut down the lab, for reasons unimaginable.

Regrettably, the jury’s out on Atamanenko’s troll game, since Russia’s Federal Security Service has deigned not to confirm either way. “We cannot comment on this story,” they merely said.

If Mao had known all this, would he still have attended Stalin’s b-day party?

Mao at Stalin's 70th birthday 65 years ago today, on 21 Dec 1949, Mao Zedong was in Moscow for the celebration of Josef Stalin's 70th birthday, an event which was presented in the Soviet media as enormously important. This was Mao's first visit to Moscow after the establishment of the People's Republic of China.At the birthday celebrations, Mao was seated at the right hand of Stalin, but he was said to have returned to China fuming, because he only had a brief meeting with Stalin and was for the most part treated only as one of many guests who had come to celebrate the birthday of the 'Father of Nations'.This video is taken from the closing scene of the Soviet-produced documentary "I was Stalin's Bodyguard" (1990), by Semyon Aranovich. Posted by Shanghaiist on Sunday, December 21, 2014

By Pinky Latt