Specialists From Moscow

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30710, 27 March 1965, Page 1

Specialists From Moscow

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 26. Mrs T a t a n i a Benediktov and one of Moscow’s top neurologists, Dr. R. Tkachev, were flown unannounced into Wellington tonight.

They were immediately taken to the bedside of the Soviet Ambassador to India, Mr Ivan Benediktov, who is recovering from a “mild heart attack.”

Mr Benediktov, aged 63, who led the Soviet delegation to the E.C.AF.E. session which ended in Wellington today, collapsed in the delegates’ lounge on Monday. He was rushed to Calvary Hospital. Mrs Benediktov this evening spent two hours with her husband. She left New Delhi yesterday.

A Soviet Legation official said tonight that Mr Benediktov’s condition was “very satisfactory.” It was expected he would leave hospital in about three days. The official said Dr. Tkachev had been sent by the

Soviet Government to examine Mr Benediktov. Dr. Tkachev, chief of staff of the Institute of Neurology and Academy of Medical Science in Moscow, arrived in Wellington late this afternoon.

The legation official said Dr. Tkachev had paid a “courtesy call” to Mr Benediktov tonight—but would not examine him until tomorrow morning. “Dr. Tkachev will have talks with the specialists who have been attending Mr Benediktov before making his examination,” the official said. “He will discuss the case fully with his New Zealand colleagues first.” The official emphasised that the decision to send Dr. Tkachev to Wellington had been his Government’s own choice. “There was no request either from the New Zealand Government or the E.C.A.F.E.

11 secretariat for a doctor to be ■ sent from our country,” said ' the legation official. I The Soviet delegation to i E.C.A.F.E. is expected to leave New Zealand on April 3, after ■ a sight-seeing tour of New i Zealand.