Time may be running out for Seven

Press, 15 August 1980, Page 13

Time may be running out for Seven

By

JOSEPH MARSHALL,

Features International

In a few days’ time, seven people will marktheir second anniversary of being willing prisoners in a cramped basement, exercising once a day in a tiny garden, and longing to start a new life 4000 miles away.

They are the “Siberian Seven” — two Russian families. who for the last two years have been enjoying sanctuary inside the American Embassy in Moscow, despite constant demands from the Soviet authorities that they be released.

Now their future is suddenly in peril. The American Embassy is soon to move to a new building, and it is feared that Soviet security police will attempt to snatch back the Siberian Seven during, the transfer, so shattering their dreams of moving to the United States and becoming American citizens.

Russia wants them to return to their homes and forget all about America. The United States wants them out of the Embassy, but is not prepared to hand them over to the K.G.B. guards who wait outside the gates. ' So the Siberian Seven, pawns in a diplomatic chess game between the Kremlin and the White House, patiently await the outcome.

While waiting, they have spent the time gathering as much information as possible about the land they want to make their own. “They love us to talk to them about America. There’s no fact that’s too small for them to seize up,on and memorise,” says one of the Embassy staff. The Seven belong to the religious Pentecostal movement in Siberia, who claim their church is being persecuted by the Russians.

In 1978 they decided the time had come to take a stand. From their home city of Chernogorsk, in central Siberia, they travelled to Moscow.

In a well-planned move, they converged on the American Embassy in Ulita Chaykovskogo, and dashed through the gates. Embassy staff admitted the seven, and in those very first few minutes, the pattern for their stay was set. The Russians anxiously reported back to their superiors for further instructions, while Embassy staff sent an urgent message to the State Department in Washington for guidance as ta the next step.

As soon as the answers came back, deadlock set in. Two years later, there is no sign of that deadlock being broken. The gist of the first Russian message to the American diplomats was:

“Those people had no right to enter the Embassy. You had no right to admit them. Please send them out immediately and they will be well treated.”

As this was being relayed to the Americans by a Soviet Foreign Ministry official, more Russian

police were massing outside the gates. The State Department ordered a reply along the following lines: “These seven people do not wish to stay in Russia. They have asked us for help and

we are considering that request. They are on American territory now, and they are our responsibility.”

This was all phrased in diplomatic terms, but the niceties of protocol could not conceal the Soviet anger, nor the American exasperation that such a

tricky situation had been allowed to develop.

It was agreed that the seven should be given living quarters and kept well fed until a solution presented itself. The diplomats can scarcely have imagined that they would

still be awaiting that s.olution two years later! The seven were moved down into the basement of the Embassy — a highceilinged area with plenty of light. There are bunks, comfortable chairs and cooking equipment. It is perfectly adequate accommodation — f.or a short stay. But as the wife of one American diplomat puts it: “Two years is an awfully long time for seven adults

to stay cooped up in there.” It is the readiness of the American officials and their families to visit the basement and discuss the United States which has given the seven their greatest comfort.

Their leader, Pyotr Vaschenko says: “We have been overwhelmed with the kindness of .our many friends here. From their manner towards us and from what they tell us about their country, we are more determined then ever to get to the United States.”

The other members of the seven are his wife and two grown-up daughters, and Mr and Mrs Chmykhalov and their daughter.

It is no secret that America wants the seven off the Embassy premises. But they do not wish to send them back to face the Soviet authorities, and in any case the Pentecostal Church in America is pressing powerfully for them to be granted their wish and flown to the United States.

But that would greatly antagonise the Kremlin — a development which the State Department . would prefer to avoid. The matter is further complicated by the fact that the Embassy is due to move soon, to premises which the Americans feel will offer greater security. When that happens, what will become of the seven? Will they be removed with the staff under the protection of diplomatic immunity, , or" will they be handed back to the Russians?

“I think you can take it that having looked after them for so long, we are not about to withdraw our support,” said a State Department spokesman,