79-14-A1
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Vlasenko[edit]
Transcript[edit]Yuri Vlasenko, a Soviet citizen, tried to leave the Soviet Union. Yuri Vlasenko is dead. On March 28th one of our embassy officials went out of the embassy in Moscow and led Vlasenko past the ever-present KGB agents into the embassy. Once inside, Yuri asked for an exit visa so that he could leave the Soviet Union. Upon being told that we couldn't do that he revealed a homemade bomb and threatened to blow himself up. Our Ambassador tried to negotiate with him and then turned the matter over to the Soviet authorities who don't negotiate in cases of this kind. They attacked with tear gas and a sharpshooter who got off two shots before Yuri Vlasenko detonated his bomb. He died there in the embassy where he had sought refuge. This tragic story is by way of introduction to the plight of seven other Soviet citizens who were in the American embassy the day Yuri Vlasenko died. They had been there, living in the reception room since June 27th, 1978. There are five members of one family, two of another. All are Christians, members of the largest religious gr-up in Russia and all have other family members outside the embassy who are undergoing the worst kind of persecution. These seven made their way to Moscow from Siberia. They had tried in every way to obtain, legally, exit visas from their own government. Finally in desperation they had sought the counsel of our ambassador. The religious group to which they belong is the largest in the Soviet Union. It is also the most. persecuted and not one member has ever been allowed to emigrate from Russia. These seven courageous and desperate people have a promise of sponsorship in American from Reverend Cecil Williamson, Jr. of Selma, Alabama. Over the past 10 years they and other members of their families have been imprisoned, tortured, found insane and some have died. Thousands of Americans, knowing of their plight, have written to them but they haven't received the letters. Our ambassador has ordered that nail to them must go through the Soviet postal service. Shortly after the Vlavenko killing, efforts were made to persuade the seven to leave the embassy. KGB cars were mysteriously waiting at the embassy entrance. When they refused to give up their sanctuary they were moved to a 20-by-20 foot room the Marine guards call the dungeon. There for a year now they have lived together in that one room. They are denied embassy food, but embassy employees--acting as Americans are supposed to act -- stand for hours in the endless lines and buy food for them in the Russian stores. Last June the ambassador grudgingly allowed American TV networks to interview them but not to show the room in which they are kept confined. Then another mystery - somehow the interviews were never shown to American audiences. Détente is supposed to be a two-way street. Our wheat and technology can get into Russia - why can't the Vlasenko and Chernogorsk families get out? This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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