The startling biography of a native Turkestani whose pursuit of self-determination for his country saw him serve the Nazis in World War II, the Red Army, and the CIA at the height of the Cold War.

"A Dark Path to Freedom" tells one of the most exciting life stories of the 20th century. Born on the eve of the Russian Revolution, Ruzi Nazar was charming, brilliant and passionately committed to Central Asia’s liberation from Soviet rule. He was a Red Army officer during World War II, then a fugitive in postwar Germanyʼs underworld, and finally emigrated to the US, mixing with the powerful and famous and rising high in the CIA. He became a US diplomat in Ankara and Bonn, and an undercover agent in Iran.

Nazar’s foresight was as impressive as his story. He predicted that Communism would collapse from within, briefing Reagan before the Gorbachev talks. A moderate Muslim, his warnings about Islamist radicalism fell on deaf ears. This remarkable biography casts unique light on the lives of those caught up in World War II and the Cold War, and the independence struggles of nationalities oppressed by Communism.