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Pentecostals – USSR (2)
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Pentecostals – USSR (2)
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Records of the National Security Council, Directorate of European and Soviet Affairs (Reagan Administration)
Jack F. Matlock, Jr.'s Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) Subject Files
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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Matlock, Jack F.: Files
Folder Title: Pentecostals - USSR (2)
Box: 30
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
WITHDRAWAL SHEET
Ronald Reagan Library
Collection Name MATLOCK, JACK: FILES
Withdrawer
JET 5/17/2005
File Folder
USSR-PENTACOSTALS 2/4
FOIA
F06-114/9
Box Number
30
YARHI-MILO
3007
ID Doc Type
Document Description
No of Doc Date Restrictions
Pages
10596 MEMO
STEARMAN TO CLARK RE PRESIDENTIAL
1 1/27/1982 B1
LETTER TO THE PENTECOSTALISTS
R 3/24/2011 F2006-114/9
10599 CABLE
261851Z JAN 82
2 1/26/1982 B1
R
3/24/2011
F2006-114/9
10597 MEMO
CLARK TO PRESIDENT RE BREZHNEV'S
1 1/29/1982 B1
ANSWER TO YOUR LETTER IN SUPPORT OF
THE PENTECOSTALISTS IN EMBASSY
MOSCOW
R
3/24/2011
F2006-114/9
10600 MEMO
BREMER TO CLARK RE BREZHNEV'S
1 1/22/1982 B1
ANSWER TO THE PRESIDENT'S LETTER IN
SUPPORT OF THE PENTECOSTALISTS IN
EMBASSY MOSCOW
R
3/24/2011
F2006-114/9
10601 LETTER
UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION BREZHNEV TO
2
ND
B1
PRESIDENT REAGAN
R
3/24/2011
F2006-114/9
10602 MEMO
SAME TEXT AS DOC #10600
1
ND
B1
R
3/24/2011
F2006-114/9
10603 LETTER
SAME TEXT AS DOC #10601
2 1/21/1982 B1
R
3/24/2011
F2006-114/9
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
B-1 National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
B-2 Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
B-3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
B-4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
B-6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
B-7 Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
B-8 Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
B-9 Release would disclose geological or geophysical information concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed of gift.
WITHDRAWAL SHEET
Ronald Reagan Library
Collection Name MATLOCK, JACK: FILES
Withdrawer
JET 5/17/2005
File Folder
USSR-PENTACOSTALS 2/4
FOIA
F06-114/9
Box Number
30
YARHI-MILO
3007
ID Doc Type
Document Description
No of Doc Date Restrictions
Pages
10604 LETTER
PRESIDENT REAGAN TO BREZHEV
1
ND
B1
R
3/24/2011
F2006-114/9
10605 CABLE
171514Z FEB 82
8 1/17/1982 B1
R
3/24/2011
F2006-114/9
10606 CABLE
261408Z FEB 82
3 2/26/1982 B6
PAR 3/24/2011
F2006-114/9
10608 CABLE
161734Z NOV 82
2 11/16/1982 B1
R
3/24/2011
F2006-114/9
10598 MEMO
CLARK TO PRESIDENT REAGAN RE SOVIET
1
ND
B1
MESSAGE ON EMBASSY PENTECOSTALISTS
R 3/24/2011 F2006-114/9
10607 MEMO
SHULTZ TO PRESIDENT REAGAN RE
2 2/28/1983 B1
SOVIET MESSAGE ON EMBASSY
PENTACOSTALISTS
R
3/24/2011
F2006-114/9
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
B-1 National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
B-2 Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
B-3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
B-4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
B-6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
B-7 Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
B-8 Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
B-9 Release would disclose geological or geophysical information concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed of gift.
I
Ripes.
zi
National Security Council
The White House
Package # 0523
82 2884 P6: 37.
SEQUENCE TO
ACTION
John Poindexter
/
HAS of SEEN
Bud McFarlane
2
Jacque Hill
3
m
Judge Clark
4
I
John Poindexter
5
Staff Secretary
Sit Room
I-Information A-Action
DISTRIBUTION
CY To VP
Show CC
CY To Meese
Show CC
CY To Baker
Show CC
CY To Deaver
Show CC
Other
COMMENTS
ORDE
10596
MW²
0523
MEMORANDUM
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
INFORMATION
January 27, 1982
CONFIDENTIAL
OBE
MEMORANDUM FOR WILLIAM P. CLARK
FROM:
WILLIAM L. STEARMAN VMI
SUBJECT:
Presidential Letter to the Pentecostalists
The President's letter to the two hunger striking
Pentecostalists (Tab I) was received by Embassy Moscow
after the two decided to resume taking liquids. The letter
is being held in reserve and will not be read to them unless
they again resort to a life-threatening abstention from
liquids.
Attachment
Tab I
President's letter to Pentecostalists
CC: Richard Pipes
Michael Guhin
CONFIDENTIAL
Review on 1/27/88
DECLASSIFIED
NLRR F06-114/9 10596
BY KML NARA DATE 4/7/2011
10599
3
CONF IDENTIAL
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
MESSAGE CENTER
PAGE 01 OF 02 SECSTATE WASHDC 0363
DTG: 261851Z JAN 82 PSN: 046950
EOB073
AN001226
TOR: 026/2050Z
CSN: HCE256
DISTRIBUTION: LORD-01 PIPE-01 STER-01 CLEV-01 /004 A1
WHSR COMMENT: RED TAG
N
0
WHTS ASSIGNED DISTRIBUTION:
SIT: WPC MCF NAN JP VP SIT EOB
D
EOB:
I
S
OP IMMED
DE ruehc #0363 0261904
O 261851Z JAN 82 ZFF6
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
DECLASSIFIED
TO AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 0490
N
NLRR F06-114/9 # 10599
INFO USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 9956
0
STATE 020363
BY KML NARA DATE 4/7/2011
D
NODIS
GENEVA FOR AMB HARTMAN AND DAS SCANLAN
S
E.O. 12065: RDS-3 01/25/02 (HOLMES, H. ALLEN)
TAGS: SREF, SHUM, UR, US
SUBJECT:
PRESIDENTIAL LETTER TO THE PENTECOSTALISTS
REF: MOSCOW 869
N
0
1. CONFIDENTIAL ENTIRE TEXT. )
D
2. PROVIDED BELOW IS THE TEXT OF THE LETTER THE
PRESIDENT HAS AUTHORIZED TO BE DELIVERED TO THE HUNGER
S
STRIKING PENTECOSTALISTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PLAN
OUTLINED IN REFTEL.
3. BEGIN TEXT. DEAR AUGUSTINA AND LTDIYA:
I WANT YOU TO KNOW OF MY DEEP PERSONAL CONCERN FOR YOUR
HEALTH AND YOUR LIVES, WHICH NOW ARE PLACED IN EXTREME
N
JEOPARDY BY THE HUNGER STRIKE YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN. MY
0
DISTRESS IS SHARED BY YOUR MANY OTHER FRIENDS AND
WELL-WISHERS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND ELSEWHERE
D
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, WHO JOTN ME IN URGING YOU TO
ABANDON THIS COURSE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
S
VASHCHENKO AND CHMYKHALOV FAMILIES ARE NOT ALONE AS YOU
PURSUE YOUR BRAVE AND DETERMINED EFFORT FOR
EMIGRATION. THOSE WHO WORK ON YOUR BEHALF, AND I HAVE
LONG COUNTED MYSELF AMONG THEM, ARE MANY, AND THEIR
EFFORTS ARE UNFLAGGING.
SINCE BECOMING PRESIDENT, I HAVE DIRECTED MY
ADMINISTRATION TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ASSIST YOU
IN REACHING YOUR GOAL. WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH
SOVIET OFFICIALS AT HIGH LEVELS TO seek RESOLUTION OF
THIS QUESTION. I REMAIN COMMITTED TO SEEKING YOUR
EMIGRATION, AS WELL AS THAT OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF
YOUR FAMILY AND THE CHMYKHOLOV FAMILY. I AM DETERMINED
TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS, AND AM HOPEFUL THAT A SOLUTION
CAN BE FOUND.
I ASK YOU NOT TO LOSE FAITH BUT TO TAKE HEART FROM THE
SINCERE COMMITMENT OF YOUR MANY SUPPORTERS. I URGE YOU
CONF IDENTIAL
4
CONFIDENTIAL
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
MESSAGE CENTER
PAGE 02 OF 02 SECSTATE WASHDC ø363
DTG: 261851Z JAN 82 PSN: 046950
TO ABANDON YOUR HUNGER STRIKE, AND TO CONTINUE YOUR
COURAGEOUS COURSE, A STRUGGLE THAT IS AN INSPIRATION TO
ALL WHO value RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND INDIVIDUAL HUMAN
N
RIGHTS. SINCERELY, RONALD REAGAN. END TEXT.
0
STOESSEL
BT
D
I
S
N
0
D
I
S
N
0
D
I
S
N
0
D
I
S
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
Pipes
410
MEMORANDUM
Rentecated
THE WHITE HOUSE
10597
The President has seen
WASHINGTON
CONFIDENTIAL
January 29, 1982
INFORMATION
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
WILLIAM P. CLARK up
SUBJECT:
Brezhnev's Answer to Your Letter in Support of
the Pentecostalists in Embassy Moscow
Brezhnev's response to your message of January 15 petulantly
rejects any responsibility for the fate of the Pentecostalists
presently given refuge at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. Brezhnev
accuses us of "detaining" the Russians and inciting them to
violate Soviet laws. "The entire responsibility for the existing
situation rests on the U.S. side", he concludes. In this
connection he alludes to the case of the Polovchak boy, who
has refused to return with his parents from this country to the
Soviet Union, accusing us of "forcefully separating him from his
parents". (C)
There is in this response (Tab A) no hint of an ability either to
face reality or to show normal human feelings. (C)
I concur with State that no further initiatives concerning the
Pentecostalists should be undertaken until we have the results
of the Secretary's meeting with Gromyko in Geneva. (C)
Attachment:
Tab A
State's translation of the Brezhnev letter of
January 22
CONFIDENTIAL
Review January 26, 1988
DECLASSIFIED
NLRRE06-114/9 #10597 10597
BY KML NARA DATE 4/7/2011
CONFIDENTIAL
CR.
10600
10
6
S/S 8201562
410
department OF STATE
THE
Washington, D.C. 20520
January 22p 1982
22 PII 13
CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM FOR WILLIAM P. CLARK
SITU
THE WHITE HOUSE
Subject: Brezhnev's Answer to the President's Letter in
Support of the Pentecostalists in Embassy Moscow
On January 22, Soviet Minister-Counselor Bessmertnykh
delivered to Acting Assistant Secretary for European Affairs
Scanlan Brezhnev's response to the President's letter regarding
the Pentecostalists in Embassy Moscow. A translation of the
letter is attached.
The position taken by Brezhnev reflects no change in the
Soviet position. The one positive note of the letter is
Brezhnev's reiteration of the assurance that the families will
not be prosecuted should they leave the Embassy and return to
Chernogorsk. The letter concludes by criticizing the U.S.
position on the Polovchak case (the Ukrainian boy who refused
to return to the USSR with his parents). In answer to a
question, Bessmertnykh said that the reference to Polovchak
represented a "philosophical" rather than a "practical" linkage.
We think that no further initiatives concerning the
Pentecostalists should be undertaken until we have the results
of the Secretary's meeting with Gromyko in Geneva on Tuesday.
L. Paul Bremer, III
Executive Secretary
Attachment:
Translation of Brezhnev Response
DECLASSIFIED
NLRR RRF06-114/9#10600
BY KML NARA DATE 4/7/2011
CONF IDENTIAL
GDS 1/22/88
10601
7
DECLASSIFIED
NLRR #10601
Unofficial translation
BY KML NARA DATE 4/7/2011
Dear Mr. President,
With regard to your communication of January 15, 1982, I
would like to say the following.
The people whom you are petitioning for have really found
themselves in a situation not to be envied. After all, this
situation was created and has long been maintained in an
artificial manner. A way out of it could have been found a
long time ago. At the present time, too, it is possible to
resolve this question.
The only thing needed is that the US side rather than
detain those people within the walls of its Embassy, take
measures for them to leave it. Nothing stands in the way of
such a step - nobody intended or intends to prosecute that
group of pentecostalists.
As to their departure from the USSR, this question can be
considered in accordance with the procedure established under
our laws and equally applicable to all Soviet citizens, after
those persons return to the place of their residence.
However, the group of the sect members that happened to be
in the US Embassy is being pushed for some reason or another in
a different direction - toward violation of the Soviet laws,
setting forth prior conditions and all sorts of demands that
can lead only to an impasse. Thus, the entire responsibility
for the existing situation rests with the US side, including
the responsibility of humanitarian nature.
We are not the ones to be called upon to exercise
humaneness. For that matter, the references to humaneness are
not convincing, while, in fact, attempts are being made to
manipulate the destinies of individuals and not only those of
the sect members who are kept in the US Embassy.
What kind of humaneness can one invoke, when the children
are forcefully separated from their parents, as is the case
with the Soviet citizens Polovchaks? Indeed, when even an
American court rules to return Vladimir Polovchak - a minor -
to his parents and the US executive authorities are raising
obstacles thereto, it is not simply inhumane but immoral.
I would like to believe that on the part of the US side
necessary measures will be taken to discontinue the abnormal
situation existing around the group of Soviet citizens who find
themselves in the US Embassy in Moscow.
Sincerely,
L. Brezhnev
January 21, 1982
9
National Security Council
The White House
RECEIVED Package # 410
82 JAN29 P 5: 04
SEQUENCE TO
HAS SEEN
ACTION
John Poindexter
Bud McFarlane
Jacque Hill
Judge Clark
John Poindexter
Staff Secretary
2
Sit Room
I-Information A-Action
DISTRIBUTION
CY To VP
Show CC
CY To Meese
Show CC
CY To Baker
Show CC
CY To Deaver
Show CC
Other
COMMENTS
National Security Council
The White House
Package # 0410
82 27 A 8 : 39
ACTION
John Poindexter
SEQUENCE TO HAS H SEEN
/
Bud McFarlane
2
M
Jacque Hill
3
4
g
Judge Clark
A
John Poindexter
5
Staff Secretary
Sit Room
I-Information A-Action
DISTRIBUTION
CY To VP
Show CC
CY To Meese
Show CC
CY To Baker
Show CC
CY To Deaver
Show CC
Other
COMMENTS
" MW
410
MEMORANDUM
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
CONFIDENTIAL
January 26, 1982
ACTION
MEMORANDUM FOR WILLIAM P. CLARK
FROM:
RICHARD PIPES
to
SUBJECT:
Brezhnev Response to President's Letter re the
Pentecostalists at U.S. Embassy Moscow
Attached at Tab I is a memorandum from you to the President
forwarding State's translation of Brezhnev's letter of
January 22 regarding the Pentecostalists at the U.S. Embassy
in Moscow.
(C)
RECOMMENDATION
That you sign the memorandum to the President at Tab I.
Approve
Disapprove
Attachments:
Tab I
Memorandum to the President
Tab A
State's memorandum with translation, dated
January 22, 1982.
CONFIDENTIAL
Review January 26, 1988.
DECLASSIFIED
By CVS CVS
White House Guidelines, NARA, Date August 7/29/02 28, 1997
Time Stamp
n
WHSR
ROUTE SLIP
82 JAN 22 P 9 : 22
STAFF
C/O
WHITE HOUSE
SITUATION ROOM
Clark
Nance
C
Colson
C
Poindexter C
V
U
McFARLANE
C
Ital foraction
NSC S/S
C = Copy
O : Original
13
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
THE WHITE HOUSE
Package #
7
02
TO
SEEN
JANET COLSON
BUD NANCE
JOHN POINDEXTER
JACQUE HILL
JUDGE CLARK
JANET COLSON
DISTRIBUTION
CY TO VP
SHOW CC
CY TO MEESE
SHOW CC
CY TO BAKER
SHOW CC
CY TO DEAVER
SHOW CC
OTHER
COMMENTS
STATE
WASHER RECEIPT
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
82 JAI 22 P 8 : 13
and
B
S
S/S #
MESSAGE NO.
01595 CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL
No. Pages
3
FROM: L.P. Bremer, III
S/S
22540
7224
(Officer name)
(Office symbol)
(Extension)
(Room number)
MESSAGE DESCRIPTION
Bnemer-Clark re Brezhnev's Answer to the President
Letter in Support of the Pentecostalists in Embassy Moscow
TO: (Agency)
DELIVER TO:
Extension
Room No.
NSC
Admiral Nance
456-2255
FOR:
CLEARANCE
INFORMATION
XX
PER REQUEST
COMMENT
REMARKS:
S/S Officer:
&
DECLASSIFIED
Department of State Guidelines, July 21, 1997
By CVJ NARA, Date 7/29/02
S/S 8201542
is
10602
EPARTMENT OF STATE
Washington, D.C. 20520
CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM FOR WILLIAM P. CLARK
THE WHITE HOUSE
Subject: Brezhnev's Answer to the President's Letter in
Support of the Pentecostalists in Embassy Moscow
On January 22, Soviet Minister-Counselor Bessmertnykh
delivered to Acting Assistant Secretary for European Affairs
Scanlan Brezhnev's response to the President's letter regarding
the Pentecostalists in Embassy Moscow. A translation of the
letter is attached.
The position taken by Brezhnev reflects no change in the
Soviet position. The one positive note of the letter is
Brezhnev's reiteration of the assurance that the families will
not be prosecuted should they leave the Embassy and return to
Chernogorsk. The letter concludes by criticizing the U.S.
position on the Polovchak case (the Ukrainian boy who refused
to return to the USSR with his parents). In answer to a
question, Bessmertnykh said that the reference to Polovchak
represented a "philosophical" rather than a "practical" linkage.
We think that no further initiatives concerning the
Pentecostalists should be undertaken until we have the results
of the Secretary's meeting with Gromyko in Geneva on Tuesday.
L. Paul Bremer, III
Executive Secretary
Attachment:
Translation of Brezhnev Response
DECLASSIFIED
NLRRE06-114/9*10602
CONF IDENTIAL
GDS 1/22/88
BY KML NARA DATE 4/7/2011
10603
16
DECLASSIFIED
NLRRF06-114/9*10603
Unofficial translation
BY KML NARA DATE 4/7/2011
Dear Mr. President,
With regard to your communication of January 15, 1982, I
would like to say the following.
The people whom you are petitioning for have really found
themselves in a situation not to be envied. After all, this
situation was created and has long been maintained in an
artificial manner. A way out of it could have been found a
long time ago. At the present time, too, it is possible to
resolve this question.
The only thing needed is that the US side rather than
detain those people within the walls of its Embassy, take
measures for them to leave it. Nothing stands in the way of
such a step - nobody intended or intends to prosecute that
group of pentecostalists.
As to their departure from the USSR, this question can be
considered in accordance with the procedure established under
our laws and equally applicable to all Soviet citizens, after
those persons return to the place of their residence.
However, the group of the sect members that happened to be
in the US Embassy is being pushed for some reason or another in
a different direction - toward violation of the Soviet laws,
setting forth prior conditions and all sorts of demands that
can lead only to an impasse. Thus, the entire responsibility
for the existing situation rests with the US side, including
the responsibility of humanitarian nature.
We are not the ones to be called upon to exercise
humaneness. For that matter, the references to humaneness are
not convincing, while, in fact, attempts are being made to
manipulate the destinies of individuals and not only those of
the sect members who are kept in the US Embassy.
What kind of humaneness can one invoke, when the children
are forcefully separated from their parents, as is the case
with the Soviet citizens Polovchaks? Indeed, when even an
American court rules to return Vladimir Polovchak - a minor -
to his parents and the US executive authorities are raising
obstacles thereto, it is not simply inhumane but immoral.
I would like to believe that on the part of the US side
necessary measures will be taken to discontinue the abnormal
situation existing around the group of Soviet citizens who find
themselves in the US Embassy in Moscow.
Sincerely,
L. Brezhnev
January 21, 1982
PENTE COSTALS 624
18
S/S-8202230
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Washington, D.C. 20520
82 PIO 45
January 29, 1982
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. WILLIAM P. CLARK
THE WHITE HOUSE
Subject: Press Announcement and Guidance -
Hospitalization of Pentecostal
Hunger Striker
Following up the meeting at the White House on the
question of the Pentecostals earlier this afternoon,
attached is a proposed press announcement and set of
Qs and As on the matter of hospitalization of the hunger
strikers. Please note the revision to the proposed
response on the question "Will the Soviets allow her
to return to the Embassy?".
Odr
L. Paul Bremer, III
Executive Secretary
Attachments:
As Stated
19
FOR CONTINGENCY USE ONLY
PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT AND GUIDANCE
January 28, 1982
Hospitalization of Pentecostal Hunger Striker
This contingency press announcement and guidance is to be used
ONLY if and when a Pentecostal Hunger Striker in Embassy Moscow
is placed in a Soviet hospital.
PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT follows:
Today at ( ) Lidiya Vashchenko was transferred from the
American Embassy in Moscow to a Soviet hospital. She was
accompanied to the hospital by the Embassy physician and a
consular officer.
Lidiya Vashchenko and her mother, Augustina Vashchenko, had
been on a liquids-only hunger strike since late December. On
Saturday or Sunday (Jan 23-24) they began a total hunger
strike; that is, no solid food and no liquids. On Tuesday,
January 26, they informed the Embassy physician that they were
going to return to a liquids-only diet. The Embassy and the
Department have from the beginning been gravely concerned over
the threat to the womens' health and their lives and did
everything possible to persuade the Vashchenkos to cease their
hunger strike. A parallel effort was made by leading
supporters of the seven Pentecostalists in the United States
and other countries. The matter has been repeatedly raised
with Soviet authorities at high levels, focusing on the
Vashchenkos' long-time desire to emigrate for reasons of
religious freedom.
While these efforts were being made on their behalf, the
20
physical condition of the pair continued to be monitored
carefully by the Embassy doctor. The primary objective of the
Embassy has been and continues to be to safeguard the health,
well-being and lives of the persons concerned. This objective
was made clear to all members of the Vashchenko family from the
outset of the hunger strike. In order to avoid a
life-threatening situation from developing and in view of the
limited medical facilities available to the Embassy, a
determination was made that Lidiya Vashchenko had to be
transferred to better equipped medical facilities.
Our Embassy asked the Soviet authorities to permit medical
evacuation to a western country. This request was denied.
Thus the Embassy had no alternative but to call for an
ambulance to transfer Lidiya to a Soviet hospital. We have
made it clear to the Soviet authorities that Lidiya Vashchenko
will be welcome to rejoin her family in the Embassy upon her
recovery and that we expect her to be allowed to do so.
The Embassy and the Department remain committed to assisting
the Vashchenko and Chmykhalov families in their desire to
emigrate and to practice their religion freely, and can only
deplore the harsh, restrictive emigration policies of the
Soviet Union that have brought about today's sad events.
Questions and Answers follow:
Q. Why was Lidiya Vashchenko moved out today? What was her
state of health?
A. The Embassy acted to move Lidiya Vashchenko to a Soviet
hospital when the Embassy physician judged it likely that
irreversible damage to her body organs might soon occur.
Q. Who made the decision to move Lidiya Vashchenko?
A. The decision was made by the Principal Officer in
accordance with standing Department of State authority to seek
Soviet medical assistance for the Pentecostalists in the event
of a medical emergency.
Q. Why was the decision made? Did you not want her to die in
the Embassy?
A. The principal concern of the United States Government in
the three and one half years that the Pentecostalists have
resided in refuge in Embassy Moscow has been to preserve the
health, safety and lives of the Vashchenkos and Chmykhalovs.
Q. Will the other Pentecostalists be removed from the Embassy
as well?
A. If a determination is made that Mrs. Vashchenko is
approaching a life-threatening situation, then the same
reasoning that led us to transfer Lidiya to a hospital would
apply for Augustina. In addition, we have made clear to all
members of the Vashchenko and Chmykhalov families that, health
permitting, they are welcome to remain in refuge in the Embassy.
Q. What hospital is Lidiya Vashchenko in?
A. (Tell if known)
Q. Will the Soviets allow her to return to the Embassy?
A. We have made it clear to the Soviets that Lidiya will be
welcome to the Embassy once her health permits and that we
expect them to allow her to do so. The Soviets have not given
us a definitive reply.
Q. What efforts were made to stop the strike?
A. President Reagan sent a message to the hunger strikers
underlining his support for their cause and urging them to give
up the strike. In addition, the Embassy physician, Embassy
officers and prominent Americans, including former President
Carter, appealed to the two hunger strikers to end their
strike. The Embassy also facilitated contact between the
families and their numerous supporters in the West so that
family friends could add their voice to the calls for an end to
the strike.
Q. What diplomatic contacts were made on the Pentecostalists'
behalf?
A. Secretary Haig raised the issue of the Pentecostalists'
desire to emigrate with Foreign Minister Gromyko at their
meeting in Geneva on January 26. Other numerous diplomatic
contacts with the Soviets were made at high levels on the
Pentecostalists' behalf. We do not believe it would serve the
interests of the Vashchenkos and the Chmykhalovs to
characterize these diplomatic contacts, which continue and will
continue until a resolution of this problem is found.
FICE -
PENTECOSTALS COSTALS
FOR CONTINGENCY USE ONLY
PRESS GUIDANCE
January 29, 1982
Presidential Message to the Pentecostal Hunger
Strikers in Embassy Moscow
Q.
Can you confirm the report that President Reagan sent &
message to the two women on hunger strike in Embassy Moscow?
A.
Yes, it is our understanding that the President did send a
personal message to the two Pentecostalists on hunger
strike.
Q. What did the message say?
(If the text of the message has not yet been released use the
following).
A. I do not have the text of the message. However, we
understand that the President expressed his support for the
families' desire to emigrate, but urged the hunger strikers
to abandon their strike.
(If the White House has released the text, use the following
answer).
A. The text of the message reads as follows: (Text of
Presidential message attached).
Drafted:EUR/SOV:JRVanLaningham
oR
1/29/82 X22071 #3416S
Cleared: EUR/SOV:AEDarbyshire
EUR/SOV:RECombs AD
EUR:JDScanlan
FOR RELEASE ONLY IF ALREADY RELEASED By WHITE HOUSE.
Dear Augustina and Lidiya:
I want you to know of my deep personal concern for your
health and your lives, which now are placed in extreme jeopardy
by the hunger strike you have undertaken. My distress is
shared by your many other friends and well-wishers here in the
United States and elsewhere throughout the world, who join me
in urging you to abandon this course before it is too late.
Please understand that you and the other members of the
Vashchenko and Chmykhalov families are not alone as you pursue
your brave and determined effort for emigration. Those who
work on your behalf, and I have long counted myself among them,
are many, and their efforts are unflagging.
Since becoming President, I have directed my Administration
to do everything possible to assist you in reaching your goal.
We have been in touch with Soviet officials at high levels to
seek resolution of this question. I remain committed to
seeking your emigration, as well as that of the other members
of your family and the Chmykhalov family. I am determined to
continue our efforts, and am hopeful that a solution can be
found.
I ask you not to lose faith but to take heart from the
sincere commitment of your many supporters. I urge you to
abandon your hunger strike, and to continue your courageous
course, a struggle that is an inspiration to all who value
religious freedom and individual human rights.
Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan
FICE
Revised Pres MSG
25
504
Pipes:
Dear Mr. President:
10604
I once again draw your attention on an urgent basis to
the tragic situation of Lidiya Vashchenko, who was hospitalized
Saturday, January 30, in Moscow. The deterioriation of her
health brought on by her hunger strike caused the Embassy to
seek emergency medical assistance for her in Moscow's Botkin
hospital to prevent irreversible damage to her health.
I wish to ask you, Mr. President, on a humanitarian basis,
to ensure that Lidiya Vashchenko receives the best possible
medical attention to hasten her complete recovery. I look
forward to receiving word from the Embassy of her improved
health and trust there will be no difficulty for the Embassy
in visiting her in the hospital and obtaining periodic reports
on her condition.
I wish to emphasize that Lidiya is entirely welcome to
return to our Embassy and rejoin her other family members upon
her release from the hospital. I would also like to underscore
my personal expectation that she will not be prevented from
doing so if it is her wish. Let me reiterate, Mr. President,
my strong feelings that Lidiya and her other family members,
together with the Chmykhalov family, should be permitted to
emigrate in order that these people can pursue what they have
sought for so long. I urge that for humanitarian reasons
quick and favorable action be taken in their cases.
Sincerely,
DECLASSIFIED
Ronald Reagan
NLRRF06-114/9*10604
BY KML NARA DATE 4/7/2011
CONF IDENTIAL
PEWTECOSTALS
DECLASSIFIED
10605
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
NLRRF06-114/9 10605
MESSAGE CENTER
BY KML NARA DATE 4/7/2011
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EXDIS
E.O. 12065: RDS-3 2/17/02 (ZIMMERMANN, WARREN) OR-M
TAGS: SHUM, CSCE, US, UR, SREF
SUBJECT: BACKGROUND BRIEFING MATERIAL ON PENTECOSTALS
-
FOR DEMARCHES
REF: MOSCOW 1603
E
1. (C/EXDIS) EMBASSY MOSCOW PROPOSES THE FOLLOWING
APPROACH FOR WESTERN DEMARCHES ON THE VASHCHENKOS AND
X
CHMYKHALOVS PER MOSCOW 1713. WE BELIEVE IT WOULD BE
D
SUITABLE FOR ALL WESTERN CSCE SIGNATORIES. WE WOULD
ENVISAGE AN INSTRUCTION TO CSCE CAPITALS WHICH
EMPHASIZED:
-- THE DESIRABILITY OF A HIGH-LEVEL, QUIET DEMARCHE
S
BY THE HOST GOVERNMENT TO THE SOVIETS NOTING VIOLATION
OF THE HELSINKI FINAL ACT AND LINKAGE (WHERE APPROPRIATE)
WITH THE MAY 10 WORLD PEACE CONFERENCE OF THE RUSSIAN
PATRIARCH.
THE SUGGESTION THAT RECIPIENT POSTS BRING THE ISSUE
TO THE ATTENTION OF PROMINENT HOST COUNTRY CHURCH
LEADERS AND GROUPS (OR THAT THEY URGE THE HOST GOVERNMENT
E
TO DO SO).
X
-- THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TIME FACTOR: THE SOVIETS ARE
ANXIOUS TO AVOID PROBLEMS AT THEIR PEACE CONFERENCE,
D
AND THE PENTECOSTAL ISSUE COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM
FOR THEM IF THE FAMILIES HAVE NOT EMIGRATED BY THEN.
(POSTS SHOULD BEAR IN MIND THAT WE WANT TO DISCOURAGE
S
ATTENDANCE AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE, WHICH WILL BE A
SOVIET PROPAGANDA FORUM DIRECTED SQUARELY AGAINST
U.S. INTERESTS. ON THE OTHER HAND, AS SOME CHURCH
GROUPS SEEM LIKELY TO SEND AT LEAST LOW-LEVEL
OBSERVERS IN ANY event, IT IS THIS FOREGONE
PARTICIPATION THAT WE WOULD HOPE TO LINK WITH THE
PENTECOSTALISTS.
2. (C/EXDIS) FOUR MEMBERS OF THE VASHCHENKO FAMILY
AND TWO PERSONS FROM THE CHMYKHALOV FAMILY HAVE LIVED
IN REFUGE IN EMBASSY MOSCOW FOR MORE THAN THREE AND
ONE HALF YEARS. DURING THIS PERIOD, THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT HAS MADE SEVERAL HIGH LEVEL EFFORTS,
INCLUDING THREE APPROACHES BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE
AND PERSONAL ACTION BY PRESIDENT REAGAN, TO SECURE
THE EMIGRATION OF THESE TWO FAMILIES TO A WESTERN
COUNTRY WHERE THEY CAN FREELY PRACTICE THEIR RELIGION.
CONF IDENTIAL
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PAGE 02 OF 02 MOSCOW 1906
DTG: 171514Z FEB 82 PSN: 019506
FRUSTRATED AT SEEMLY INTERMINABLE SOVIET INACTION,
TWO MEMBERS OF THE VASHCHENKO FAMILY WITHIN AMEMBASSY
MOSCOW DECLARED A HUNGER STRIKE IN DECEMBER 1981,
E
GAINING WORLD-WIDE ATTENTION. WHILE THE HUNGER STRIKE
X
HAS NOW ENDED, IT HAS CATAPULTED THE VASHCHENKOS
AND CHMYKHALOVS INTO ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT HUMAN
D
RIGHTS CASES IN THE SOVIET UNION. THIS HAS FOR THE
FIRST TIME PROVIDED THE UNITED STATES WITH NEEDED
LEVERAGE TO RESOLVE THE VASHCHENKOS' AND CHMYKHALOVS'
EMIGRATION PROBLEM: THE SOVIETS ARE DISPLAYING
S
CONSIDERABLE SENSITIVITY TO THEIR PUBLIC IMAGE IN
THIS MATTER. THE USSR APPEARS TO BE PARTICULARLY
CONCERNED THAT WESTERN CHRISTIAN GROUPS THEY WOULD
LIKE TO ATTRACT TO THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX PATRIARCH' S
WORLD PEACE CONFERENCE (REF A) WILL CONDITION THEIR
PARTICIPATION ON A RESOLUTION OF THE VASHCHENKO AND
CHMYKHALOV PROBLEM, OR WILL PROMINENTLY BRING UP
THIS ISSUE AT THE CONFERENCE.
X
D
3. (C/EXDIS) SOVIET PERSECUTION OF THE VASHCHENKOS
AND CHMYKHALOVS FOR THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, ALONG
WITH THE SOVIET REFUSAL T.O ALLOW THE TWO FAMILIES TO
S
EMIGRATE, CONSTITUTE CLEAR VIOLATIONS OF THE UNITED
NATIONS DECLARATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE CONFERENCE
FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE FINAL ACT,
PARTICULARLY ARTICLE VII ON RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
AND THE SECTION ON COOPERATION IN HUMANITARIAN AND OTHER
FIELDS WHICH CALLS FOR FREER MOVEMENT OF PEOPLES.
WESTERN CHURCH GROUPS, BY FORCEFULLY EXPRESSING THEIR
E
INTEREST IN THIS MATTER TO THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX
PATRIARCHATE AND BY EITHER REFUSING TO PARTICIPATE IN
X
THE WORLD PEACE CONFERENCE OR BY THREATENING TO RAISE
D
THE PENTECOSTALS' PROBLEM THERE, CAN PLAY A CRUCIAL
ROLE IN RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM. ENERGETIC AND HIGH-LEVEL
REPRESENTATION TO HOST COUNTRY GOVERNMENTS AND RELIGIOUS
GROUPS IS ESSENTIAL I-N ORDER TO PRESS OUR ADVANTAGE
S
BEFORE THE WORLD PEACE CONFERENCE CONVENES MAY 10.
4. (U) THE FOLLOWING BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE
VASHCHENKOS AND CHMYKHALOVS MAY BE DRAWN FROM IN
BRIEFING FOREIGN OFFICIALS AND CHURCHMEN.
BT
E
X
S
CONFIDENTIAL
28
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5. (U) THE VASHCHENKO FAMILY NUMBERS 16 PERSONS -
PETER AND AUGUSTINA, AGE 55 AND 52, RESPECTIVELY,
AND CHILDREN LIDIA, 30; LUBOV, 29; NADEZHDA, 26;
VERA, 25; LILIA, 24; ALEXANDER, 22; HIS WIFE LUDMILA,
E
24; IOAN, 20; IAKOV, 19; DINA, 16; AVEL, 15; PAVEL,
14; SARRA, 1; AND AVRAAM, 7.- THE CHMYKHALOV FAMILY
X
TOTALS 12 MEMBERS - PETRO, 55; MARIA, 59; THEIR
CHILDREN NADEZHDA, 29; ANATOLIY, 25; ALEKSANDR, 21;
TIMOFEI, 19; VLADIMIR, 27; HIS WIFE EKATERINA, 26
AND THEIR CHILDREN ROMAN, 3; ELENA, 2; NADEZHDA, 1;
AND MARIA' S UNMARRIED SISTER ANNA MAKARENKO, 53.
S
BOTH FAMILIES ARE MEMBERS OF AN UNREGISTERED PENTECOSTAL
CHURCH IN THEIR HOMETOWN OF CHERNOGORSK, SIBERIA.
CHURCHES IN THE SOVIET UNION MUST BE GOVERNMENT
SANCTIONED. REGISTERED CONGREGATIONS, WHICH HAVE
OFFICIAL PERMISSION TO OPERATE, ARE REQUIRED TO ABIDE
BY CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS, INCLUDING STATE APPROVAL OF
PASTORS, NO ATTENDANCE BY PERSONS UNDER 18 YEARS OF
E
AGE OR PROSTELIZATION OF CHILDREN, AND NO TEACHING
X
OF CERTAIN PARTS OF THE BIBLE.
NEITHER THE VASHCHENKOS NOR CHMYKHALOVS ARE
D
WILLING TO ACCEPT SUCH RESTRICTIONS
AND BOTH FAMILIES HAVE SUFFERED A LONG PERIOD OF
PERSECUTIONS AS A RESULT OF FOLLOWING THE DICTATES
OF THEIR CONSCIENCE. BEGINNING IN 1961 WITH
S
KHRUSHCHEV' S INTENSIFICATION OF CHURCH PERSECUTION,
MEETINGS OF THE CHERNOGORSK UNREGISTERED PENTECOSTAL
CHURCH WERE BROKEN UP OR HARASSED WITH GREAT
REGULARITY. AT ONE POINT THAT YEAR, A TRUCK RAMMED
THE BUILDING SERVICES WERE BEING HELD IN WHILE THE
CONGREGATION WAS INSIDE. WHEN THAT FAILED TO STOP
THE WORSHIPPERS, A FIRE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT IN, WINDOWS
BROKEN OUT AND THE CONGREGATION SPRAYED FULL FORCE
WITH COLD WATER. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THAT SAME YEAR,
A POWDER WAS THROWN INTO THE BASEMENT OF THE HOUSE
WHERE THE UNREGISTERED PENTECOSTALS WERE MEETING,
CAUSING ITCHING AND SNEEZING. MEMBERS OF
THE CHMYKHALOV AND VASHCHENKO FAMILIES WERE ALSO BEATEN,
HARASSED ON THE JOB AND FINED FOR ATTENDING "ILLEGAL"
CHURCH SERVICES.
6. (U) CONVINCED THAT THEY WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO
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WORSHIP IN THE SOVIET UNION ACCORDING TO THEIR BELIEFS,
THE VASHCHENKOS AND CHMYKHALOVS SEPARATELY BEGAN THEIR
QUEST FOR EMIGRATION, PREFERABLY TO ISRAEL, WHICH
E
THEY HELD TO BE THEIR SPIRITUAL HOMELAND. THIS
X
QUEST, MOTIVATED SOLELY BY CONSTANT RELIGIOUS
PERSECUTIONS, HAS BEEN FRUSTRATED FOR 20 YEARS BY
D
RESTRICTIVE SOVIET EMIGRATION PRACTICES. NEITHER THE
VASHCHENKOS NOR CHMYKHALOVS HAVE RELATIVES ABROAD.
THE SOVIET UNION, WHICH DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE RELIGIOUS
S
PERSECUTION, DOES NOT ALLOW EMIGRATION ON RELIGIOUS
OR VIRTUALLY ANY GROUNDS OTHER THAN FAMILY REUNIFICATION.
IN OCTOBER 1962, PETER AND AUGUSTINA, ACCOMPANIED BY
SEVERAL OF THEIR CHILDREN, TRAVELED TO MOSCOW WHERE
THEY REQUESTED PERMISSION TO EMIGRATE AT THE OFFICE
OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SUPREME SOVIET.
RECEIVING NO ASSISTANCE, THE VASHCHENKOS NEXT TURNED
E
TO THE AMERICAN EMBASSY -- NOT KNOWING THERE WAS
THEN AN ISRAELI EMBASSY IN MOSCOW. THE FAMILY HOPED
X
THE AMERICANS COULD EITHER ASSIST THEM IN REACHING
ISRAEL, OR ADMIT THEM TO THE U.S. WHERE THEY COULD
D
WORSHIP FREELY. THEY WERE KEPT FROM ENTERING THE
U.S. EMBASSY, HOWEVER, BY SOVIET GUARDS. PETER
SUBSEQUENTLY WROTE A DECLARATION OF HIS DESIRE TO
S
LEAVE THE USSR, LEFT IT AT THE PRESIDIUM AND THE
VASHCHENKOS RETURNED TO CHERNOGORSK. ON DECEMBER 14,
1962, PETER WAS ARRESTED AND ON MARCH 21, 1963 SENTENCED
TO TWO YEARS IMPRISONMENT UNDER ARTICLE 227 WHICH
MAKES IT A CRIME TO ORGANIZE OR LEAD A GROUP WHOSE
ACTIVITY, CARRIED ON UNDER THE GUISE OF PREACHING
RELIGIOUS DOCTRINES AND PERFORMING RELIGIOUS RITUALS,
E
IS CONNECTED WITH CAUSING HARM TO CITIZENS' HEALTH
X
D
7. (U) EARLIER IN 1962, PETER AND AUGUSTINA HAD BEEN
DEPRIVED OF PARENTAL RIGHTS FOR THEIR THREE OLDEST
CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO ALLOW THEIR OFFSPRING
TO RECEIVE ATHEISTIC EDUCATION IN SOVIET SCHOOLS.
S
IN THE SUMMER OF THAT YEAR, THE THREE WERE FORCIBLY
REMOVED FROM THEIR PARENTS' HOME AND PLACED IN AN
ORPHANAGE, NOT TO BE RELEASED UNTIL MORE THAN FIVE
YEARS LATER. IN 1968, PETER AND AUGUSTINA VASHCHENKO
RETURNED TO THE AMERICAN EMBASSY TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE.
THEY WERE DENIED ENTRANCE BY THE MILITIA GUARD AND
ARRESTED. PETER WAS INCARCERATED IN A PSYCHIATRIC
E
HOSPITAL FOR TWO MONTHS, FOLLOWED BY A SENTENCE OF
X
ONE YEAR IN A LABOR COLONY FOR NOT HAVING A SOVIET
INTERNAL PASSPORT (PETER HAD RETURNED HIS INTERNAL
D
BT
S
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PASSPORT TO SOVIET AUTHORITIES IN MARCH 1965 TO UNDER-
LINE HIS DETERMINATION TO EMIGRATE) . AUGUSTINA WAS
SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN A LABOR CAMP UNDER ARTICLE
191 FOR RESISTANCE TO AUTHORITY.
E
8. (U) PERSECUTIONS OF THE VASHCHENKO FAMILY DID NOT
STOP AFTER THE RELEASE OF PETER AND AUGUSTINA.
X
ALTHOUGH THE THREE OLDER DAUGHTERS HAD BEEN RESTORED
D
TO THE FAMILY, THE STATE THREATENED TO REMOVE THE
YOUNGER VASHCHENKO CHILDREN IN 1974. IN 1975, THE
FAMILY WAS ATTACKED BY NAME IN THE NEWSPAPER
CHERNOGORSK worker" FOR FOLLOWING "RELIGIOUS
S
PREJUDICES" THAT CAUSED THEM TO COME INTO CONFLICT
WITH SOVIET LAW. ON DECEMBER 9, 1977 THE OLDEST
VASHCHENKO SON, ALEXANDER, WAS SENTENCED TO THREE
YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR REFUSING INDUCTION ON RELIGIOUS
GROUNDS INTO THE SOVIET ARMY.
E
9. (U) THE CHMYKHALOVS BEGAN ACTIVELY TO PURSUE
X
EMIGRATION IN 1963. IN THAT YEAR, PETRO CHMYKHALOV
HAD INTENDED TO JOIN A GROUP OF 32 CHERNOGORSK
D
PENTECOSTALS WHO TRAVELED TO MOSCOW (AND VISITED
THE AMERICAN EMBASSY) REQUESTING PERMISSION TO
EMIGRATE. WORK AND A FAMILY ILLNESS PREVENTED HIM.
S
ON THE BASIS OF ADVICE FROM SOME OF THE 32, THE
CHMYKHALOVS DECLARED THEIR INTENTION TO EMIGRATE
BY A LETTER TO PREMIER khruschev, IN WHICH THEY
UNILATERALLY RENOUNCED THEIR SOVIET CITIZENSHIP AND
RETURNED THEIR SOVIET INTERNAL PASSPORTS. THE LOCAL
AUTHORITIES RESPONDED BY SEARCHING THE CHMYKHALOV
HOME AND REGULARLY HAULING MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY
BEFORE LOCAL COURTS TO BE GIVEN STIFF FINES FOR
ILLEGAL RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES. SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE
FAMILY WERE AT VARIOUS TIMES ARRESTED: MARIA SERVED
32 DAYS IN PRISON IN 1969 FOR LACK OF AN INTERNAL
PASSPORT. PETRO WAS SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR IN A LABOR
CAMP FOR THE SAME OFFENSE THAT YEAR. MARIA'S SISTER,
ANNA MAKARENKO, WAS ARRESTED IN 1968, ALSO FOR
PASSPORT VIOLATIONS.
10. (U) THE CHMYKHALOVS CONTINUED TO WRITE SOVIET
AUTHORITIES REGULARLY TO REQUEST PERMISSION TO
EMIGRATE, WITHOUT RESULT. FINALLY IN 1978, AFTER
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DTG: 171514Z FEB 82 PSN: 019537
BEING TOLD BY A SOVIET LOCAL OFFICIAL THAT NO FOREIGN
COUNTRY WANTED TO ACCEPT THE FAMILY, MARIA CHMYKHALOV
AND HER SON TIMOFEI DECIDED TO JOIN 6 MEMBERS OF
E
THE VASHCHENKO FAMILY WHO PLANNED TO VISIT THE
X
AMERICAN EMBASSY. THE VASHCHENKOS HAD JUST RECEIVED
LETTERS OF INVITATION ("VYZOVS") FROM THE UNITED
D
STATES BUT LOCAL EMIGRATION AUTHORITIES INSISTED THAT
THE AMERICANS DID NOT WANT THEIR FAMILY EITHER AND
REFUSED TO ACCEPT THEIR DOCUMENTS.
S
11. (U) PETER VASHCHENKO, ALONG WITH THE TWO CHMYKHALOVS
AND HIS WIFE AUGUSTINA AND CHILDREN LIDIA, LYUBOV,
LILIA AND IOAN, HOPED TO SECURE FROM THE U.S. EMBASSY
EVIDENCE THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE WILLING TO
ACCEPT THEM AS EMIGRANTS AND ASSISTANCE IN THE
EMIGRATION PROCESS. ON JUNE 27, 1978 THE TWO FAMILIES
WERE DENIED ENTRY INTO THE EMBASSY BY SOVIET POLICEMEN
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY BORE A LETTER OF INVITATION
X
FROM THE U.S. CONSUL. THE TWO FAMILIES DECIDED TO
RUSH PAST THE SOVIET POLICE ONTO THE EMBASSY COMPOUND,
D
BUT IN THE PROCESS ONE MEMBER OF THE GROUP, IOAN
vashchenko, WAS APPREHENDED. THE SEVEN WHO SUCCEEDED
IN ENTERING THE EMBASSY WERE IN AN AGITATED AND
S
DESPERATE STATE AND REFUSED TO LEAVE UNTIL THEY KNEW
WHAT HAD BECOME OF IOAN. EMBASSY OFFICERS IMMEDIATELY
CONTACTED SOVIET POLICE OFFICIALS TO DETERMINE IOAN' S
WHEREABOUTS AND CONDITION, BUT RECEIVED NO ANSWER
BY NIGHTFALL. THE seven PENTECOSTALS WERE THEREFORE
ALLOWED TO REMAIN IN THE EMBASSY FOR WHAT WAS EXPECTED
TO BE A VERY BRIEF AND TEMPORARY PERIOD OF REFUGE.
E
IT WAS NOT UNTIL TWO weeks LATER THAT WE LEARNED THAT
IOAN VASHCHENKO HAD been BEATEN BY THE soviet POLICE,
X
AND THEN RELEASED AND RETURNED TO CHERNOGORSK. BY
D
THAT TIME, THE SEVEN WITHIN THE EMBASSY BELIEVED THEIR
LONG RESIDENCY THERE WOULD BRING HARSH OFFICIAL REPRISALS
AGAINST THEM AND WERE AFRAID TO LEAVE.
S
12. (U) SINCE JUNE 27, 1978, THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT HAS BROUGHT THE VASHCHENKO' S AND CHMYKHALOV' S
EMIGRATION PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SOVIET
GOVERNMENT NO LESS THAN 35 TIMES, INCLUDING 4 TIMES
AT THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND/OR FOREIGN MINISTER
LEVEL. PRESIDENT REAGAN HAS DECLARED HIS CONCERN FOR
E
AND SUPPORT OF THE TWO FAMILIES SEVERAL TIMES EVEN
X
BEFORE TAKING OFFICE. THE PRESIDENT' S MOST RECENT
INITIATIVE ON BEHALF OF THE VASHCHENKOS AND CHMYKHALOVS
D
BT
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WAS A LETTER TO THEM ON JANUARY 29, 1981. SOME FOREIGN
COUNTRIES LENT THEIR SUPPORT. ON JUNE 11, 1980, IN
RESPONSE TO A PARLIAMENTARY MOTION THE CANADIAN EMBASSY
IN MOSCOW INFORMED SOVIET AUTHORITIES THAT CANADA
WAS PREPARED TO RECEIVE THE PENTECOSTALS AND ASKED
THAT THE VASHCHENKOS AND CHMYKHALOVS BE ALLOWED TO
EMIGRATE. IN DECEMBER 1981, NINE SWEDISH PARLIAMEN-
TARIANS CALLED IN A LETTER TO PRESIDENT BREZHNEV FOR
THE RELEASE OF THE TWO FAMILIES. THIS INITIATIVE
D
RECEIVED PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT IN NORWAY, THE NETHERLANDS
AND IRELAND.
S
13. (U) THE SOVIET MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS HAS
MAINTAINED A CONSISTENT POSITION over THE THREE AND
ONE HALF YEARS OF THE PENTECOSTALS' REFUGE IN THE
U.S. EMBASSY -- THAT THE seven SHOULD RETURN TO
THEIR HOME TOWN OF CHERNOGORSK TO APPLY FOR EMIGRATION.
THE SOVIETS HAVE REFUSED TO PROVIDE GUARANTEES THAT
THE VASHCHENKOS AND CHMYKHALOVS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO
EMIGRATE IF THEY DID RETURN HOME. THE TWO FAMILIES,
X
FOR THEIR PART, NOTE THAT EMIGRATION AUTHORITIES REFUSED
TO ACCEPT THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR EMIGRATION IN CHERNO-
D
GORSK FOR 16 YEARS BEFORE THEY CAME TO THE EMBASSY.
AFTER MUCH SOUL SEARCHING, THE SEVEN WITHIN THE
EMBASSY AGREED TO A COMPROMISE POSITION: THEY WOULD
LEAVE THE EMBASSY IF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WERE FIRST
S
ALLOWED TO EMIGRATE FROM CHERNOGORSK AND THEY were
GIVEN ASSURANCES THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE PERSECUTED
AND WOULD BE ALLOWED TO EMIGRATE. SINCE THEN, THE
seven HAVE STATED THEY WOULD LEAVE WITHOUT ASSURANCES
IF THEIR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS were ALLOWED TO EMIGRATE.
14. (U) DRIVEN TO DESPAIR BY SOVIET REFUSALS TO
CONSIDER THEIR PLEA FOR EMIGRATION, TWO MEMBERS OF
THE VASHCHENKO FAMILY WITHIN THE U.S. EMBASSY,
AUGUSTINA AND LIDIA, BEGAN HUNGER STRIKES ON
DECEMBER 25 AND 28, 1981 RESPECTIVELY. ON JANUARY 30, 1982
LIDIA VASHCHENKO, DEHYDRATED AND WEAK FROM HUNGER,
WAS TAKEN TO A SOVIET HOSPITAL BY EMBASSY OFFICERS
FOR NECESSARY MEDICAL TREATMENT UNAVAILABLE ON THE
EMBASSY COMPOUND. LIDIA STOPPED HER HUNGER STRIKE,
RECOVERED, AND UPON HER RELEASE ON FEBRUARY 11,
DECIDED TO RETURN TO CHERNOGORSK TO APPLY FOR
EMIGRATION, ALONG WITH HER FAMILY MEMBERS STILL
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THERE, AS A TEST OF THE POSITION THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT
HAS HELD FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS.
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15. (U) THE SOVIETS ARE REACTING TO THE TREMENDOUS
GROWTH IN WESTERN PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE VASHCHENKOS
D
AND CHMYKHALOVS WITH VILIFICATION. IN CONTACTS WITH
WESTERN CHURCHMEN AND IN A FEBRUARY 15 TASS STORY,
THE USSR HAS MAINTAINED THAT:
S
-- THE EMBASSY PENTECOSTALS HAVE BEEN EXCOMMUNICATED
BY THEIR CHURCH AND ARE NOT A RELIGIOUS ISSUE (IN
FACT, THE VASHCHENKOS AND CHMYKHALOVS BELONG TO AN
UNREGISTERED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH. THEY WERE "EXCOMMUNI-
CATED" BY ANOTHER PENTECOSTAL GROUP TO WHICH THEY DO
NOT BELONG.)
-- NO ONE HAS EVER PERSECUTED THE VASHCHENKOS AND
E
CHMYKHALOVS AND NO ONE WILL IF THEY RETURN TO
CHERNOGORSK (PAST SOVIET BEHAVIOR RENDERS THIS
X
ARGUMENT LUDICROUS).
-- THE PENTECOSTAL HUNGER STRIKE WAS A STAGED AFFAIR
D
AND IS BEING EXPLOITED BY THE UNITED STATES AS PART
OF AN ANTI-SOVIET CAMPAIGN. (EMBASSY MOSCOW TOOK
EVERY ACTION TO DISCOURAGE THE HUNGER STRIKE AND
S
HOSPITALIZED LIDIA WHEN, IN THE EMBASSY DOCTOR' S
JUDGMENT, HER CONDITION THREATENED IMMINENT DAMAGE
TO her VITAL ORGANS. LIDIA MADE A FULL RECOVERY
BECAUSE THE EMBASSY ACTED BEFORE permanent DAMAGE
COULD OCCUR. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DID NOT SUPPORT
THE HUNGER STRIKE, BUT CERTAINLY SUPPORTS THE RIGHT
OF THE VASHCHENKO AND CHMYKHALOV FAMILIES TO EMIGRATE
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AND WORSHIP FREELY. )
ZIMMERMANN
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TAGS: SREF, UR, US
SUBJECT: INTERNAL DISCORD AMONG EMBASSY PENTECOSTALS
-
INCREASING
REF: 81 MOSCOW 16758
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1.
CONFIDENTIAL,
ENTIRE
TEXT.
X
D
2. INTERNAL DISCORD AMONG THE SIX PENTECOSTALS
LIVING IN REFUGE AT AMEMBASSY MOSCOW HAS UNEXPECTEDLY
SHARPENED IN RECENT weeks. WHILE DIVISIONS ALONG
GENERATIONAL AND FAMILY LINES HAVE BEEN NOTABLE FOR
S
MORE THAN A YEAR (REFTEL), NEW SQUABBLES HAVE
DEVELOPED SINCE MID-JANUARY 1982 WHICH PIT MARIA
CHMYKHALOV AGAINST THE OTHER FIVE PENTECOSTALS,
INCLUDING HER SON TIMOFEI. MARIA FELT ISOLATED AND
IGNORED DURING THE HUNGER STRIKE. ALTHOUGH CONSOFFS
TOOK CARE TO ENSURE HER THAT ALL U.S. GOVERNMENT
EFFORTS WERE BEING MADE EQUALLY ON BEHALF OF THE
E
CHMYKHAL OVS AND VASHCHENKOS MARIA GENERALLY RECEIVED
X
NO ATTENTION FROM CORRES ONDENTS COVERING THE STRIKE
AND SUPPORTERS CALLING FROM THE WEST.: MARIA IS
D
HANDICAPPED BY HER LACK OF ENGLISH AND HER ESTRANGE-
MENT FROM HER ENGLISH-SPEAKING SON. SHE CANNOT speak
DIRECTLY WITH MOST WESTERN SUPPORTERS AND MANY
S
CORRESPONDENTS, BUT NONE OF THE OTHER PENTECOSTALS
IS WILLING TO INTERPRET FOR HER. SINCE THE ENLARGE-
MENT OF THE PENTECOSTALS' LIVING QUARTERS TO TWO
ROOMS -- A MOVE TAKEN TO GIVE THE SIX MORE PRIVACY
AND, WE HOPED, TO COOL TEMPERS STRAINED BY CLOSE
LIVING CONDITIONS -- ARGUMENTS BETWEEN MARIA AND
THE OTHERS HAVE GROWN CONSIDERABLY WORSE. TIMOFEI
CHMYKHALOV HAS IN EFFECT BECOME A MEMBER OF THE
VASHCHENKO FAMILY, TAKING THEIR SIDE IN INTER-FAMILY
DISPUTES, SUPPORTING, IN MARIA'S VIEW, THE INTERESTS
OF THE VASHCHENKOS ABOVE THOSE OF HIS OWN FAMILY,
AND IGNORING MARIA. TIMOFEI SHARES A BEDROOM WITH
HIS MOTHER BUT SPENDS THE GREATER PART OF HIS DAY
WITH THE VASHCHENKOS IN AN ADJOINING ROOM. MARIA
HAS ACCUSED THE VASHCHENKOS OF STEALING HER SON AWAY
AND DEMANDED THAT THEY RELEASE HIM FROM THEIR INFLUENCE.
3. COMMENT: THE VASHCHENKOS' AND CHMYKHALOVS'
DECLASSIFIED IN PART
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SQUABBLES BEGAN LONG BEFORE THEY ENTERED THE EMBASSY.
THE TWO FAMILIES were MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT UNREGIS-
TERED PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES IN CHERNOGORSK THAT HAD
E
SPLIT LARGELY OVER PETER VASHCHENKO S INTERPRETATION
X
OF CERTAIN DOCTRINES. DISCORD BETWEEN THE TWO FAMILIES
WAS SUSPENDED FOR A SHORT TIME when THEY MADE THEIR
D
JOINT TRIP TO THE EMBASSY IN 1978. WHEN THEY
UNEXPECTEDLY ENDED UP IN REFUGE here, THE OLD DIVISIONS
QUICKLY FLARED. THE VASHCHENKOS WERE LARGELY THE
S
AGGRESSIVE PARTY IN THE EARLY DISPUTES, SPREADING
FALSE ACCOUNTS THAT MARIA WAS TRYING TO LIVE TOO
WELL IN THE EMBASSY, DEFAMING MARIA AS A LIAR AND
ENCOURAGING BOTH SUPPORTERS AND THE EMBASSY TO ABANDON
THE CHMYKHALOVS WHOSE CASE FOR EMIGRATION, THE
VASHCHENKOS MAINTAIN, IS NOWHERE NEAR AS GOOD AS THAT
OF THEIR FAMILY. NONETHELESS, MARIA HAS CLEARLY
E
INSTIGATED THE LATEST DISCORD BY INSISTENTLY DEMANDING
THAT THE VASHCHENKOS "RETURN her SON TO HER. HEATED
X
SHOUTING MATCHES BETWEEN MARIA AND THE VASHCHENKOS
ARE NOW DAILY OCCURRENCES. CONSOFFS have APPEALED
D
TO THE SIX SEVERAL TIMES TO LIVE TOGETHER PEACEABLY
AS CHRISTIANS AND have POINTED OUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACT
SUCH DISCORD WILL HAVE ON SUPPORT FOR THE PENTECOSTALS
S
IN THE WEST -- ALL TO NO AVAIL.
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WHITE HOUSE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT' S PARTY
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: SHUM, CSCE, UR, OVIP
SUBJECT: SUBSTANCE OF BUSH/SHULTZ MEETING WITH EMBASSY
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REFS: (A) MOSCOW 13789, (B) MOSCOW 13754
X
1. THE LETTERS PREPARED BY THE VASHCHENKO FAMILY
D
(PARA 1, REF A) PROVED TO BE AN OUTLINE OF THE COURSE
OF THE DISCUSSION DURING THE VISIT OF VICE PRESIDENT
BUSH AND SECRETARY SHULTZ TO THE PENTECOSTAL FAMILIES
IN REFUGE IN THE EMBASSY ON NOVEMBER 15.
S
2. THE LOW-KEY EXCHANGE PROCEEDED IN TURN THROUGH THE
CONCERNS EXPRESSED IN THE LETTERS. THE SECRETARY ASSURED
THE FAMILIES THAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SEIZES EVERY
POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE WITH THE SOVIETS THEIR
CASES AND THOSE OF OTHERS LIKE THEM WHO ARE PERSECUTED
BECAUSE OF THEIR BELIEFS. VICE PRESIDENT BUSH EXPLORED
WITH LIUBA VASHCHENKO THE MATTERS OF HER MOTHER'S
(AUGUSTINA' S) ILLNESS, AND OF POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE IN
EMIGRATING FROM COUSIN GREGORY, WHO NOW LIVES IN THE FRG.
D
(COMMENT: INASMUCH AS THE SUBSTANCE OF THE LETTERS WAS
DISCUSSED FULLY IN PERSON, EMBASSY BELIEVES NO FORMAL
WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE VASHCHENKO LETTERS IS NECESSARY.
END COMMENT.)
S
3. LIUBA VASHCHENKO, WHO, WITH HER EXCELLENT ENGLISH,
DOMINATED THE MEETING FROM THE PENTECOSTAL SIDE, THEN
BROUGHT UP THE MATTER OF A POSSIBLE VISIT TO THE EMBASSY
BY CHERNOGORSK FAMILY MEMBERS (REF B). UPON LEARNING THAT
LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN CHERNOGORSK HAVE APPARENTLY AGREED
TO ALLOW THE VASHCHENKO CHILDREN TO TRAVEL TO MOSCOW,
(DETAILS REPORTED SEPTEL), THE VICE PRESIDENT SUGGESTED THAT
THIS WAS PERHAPS A SIGN OF A CHANGING SOVIET POINT OF VIEW,
AND REPEATED PRIOR EMBASSY ASSURANCES TO THE FAMILY THAT
IT WILL DO WHAT IS POSSIBLE TO FACILITATE THE REUNION.
4. THE MEETING CONCLUDED WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT' S AND
SECRETARY' S RENEWED EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT FOR THE
FAMILIES' DESIRE TO EMIGRATE, AND WITH THANKS FROM BOTH
THE CHMYKHALOVS AND VASHCHENKOS FOR THE VISIT.
5.
THIS MESSAGE HAS NOT BEEN CLEARED BY MEMBERS OF
CONF IDENT IAL
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VICE PRESIDENT' S OR SECRETARY' S PARTY.
HARTMAN
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CONF IDENT IAL
12/22 PENTECOSTALS 39
TESTIMONY OF THOMAS W. SIMONS, JR.
DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF SOVIET UNION AFFAIRS
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
BEFORE THE
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION, REFUGEES, AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
16 DECEMBER 1982
SENATE BILL 312
40
Mr. Chairman:
I am pleased to have this opportunity to present the
Senate Bill 312
Department of State's views on
BIGI
which would grant permanent resident alien status to
those members of the Chmykhalov and Vashchenko families
currently living in refuge in the American Embassy in Moscow.
As I testified in November, 1981, in hearings before the Senate
Judiciary Committee, the U.S. Government takes a strong and
continuing interest in the plight of these two Pentecostalist
families. We are firmly committed to helping them seek the
emigration they desire and the freedom of movement and freedom
of religious expression which are provided for under the
Helsinki Final Act. The thirteen months since I testified last
for the Department of State on the legislation under
consideration have been an eventful time for the Vashchenkos
and Chmykhalovs, and I would like to begin this present report
by briefly reviewing the events of that period, and the role
played by our Embassy in Moscow.
Late last December two members of the Vashchenko family in
refuge in the Embassy, the mother Augustina and the eldest
daughter Lidiya, embarked on a hunger strike in the hope of
encouraging a favorable resolution of the families'
long-standing emigration case. From the outset of Augustina's
and Lidiya's strike, the Embassy provided the two women with
41
-2-
the most thorough medical supervision in its power, while
urging them to cease the strike, which became increasingly
hazardous to their health. The Embassy also facilitated
communications between the Vashchenkos and their supporters in
the United States and elsewhere, and these supporters also
urged Augustina and Lidiya to abandon their strike. In spite
of these pleas, mother and daughter continued their hunger
strike. Finally, in late January, the best medical advice
available held that Lidiya faced irreversible damage to her
health unless she received medical attention only available
outside the Embassy. Since the Soviet authorities did not see
fit to agree that she should receive it in a Western country,
the only alternative was hospitalization in Moscow, which took
place January 30. During her stay in the hospital, she was
frequently visited by Embassy officers, who conveyed messages
from her family and monitored her return to health. On
February 11, Lidiya checked out of the hospital, and, along
with her sister Vera and brother Sasha, who had travelled to
Moscow from the family's hometown of Chernogorsk, Siberia,
visited those members of her family still in refuge in the
Embassy. The Embassy facilitated this visit to the fullest
extent. The next day Lidiya, Sasha, and Vera departed for
Chernogorsk, and Augustina subsequently abandoned her hunger
strike on learning that her children had arrived home safely.
Over the following several months the Chmykhalov and
Vashchenko families encountered a number of disappointing
42
-3-
developments in their emigration case. In February, the
applications of the Chmykhalovs were refused by the local OVIR
-- the Soviet Office of Visas and Registration -- because those
documents were three years old. In March, Lidiya was again
prevented from applying for emigration, despite the fact that
Soviet authorities had earlier claimed that her return to
Chernogorsk was a precondition for the consideration of her
application. It was also informally suggested by the OVIR that
she had broken Soviet law by residing in the American Embassy.
During the spring of this year the hopes of the Chernogorsk
Vashchenkos were temporarily raised by periodic reports from
OVIR that their applications to renounce Soviet citizenship
were "under consideration". At the same time the family was
subjected to harassment ranging from vilification in the Soviet
media to threats of court proceedings and outright violence.
The several demarches which the U.S. Government made that
spring on behalf of the two families did not bring positive
results, for in early June Soviet authorities denied the
Vashchenkos' applications to renounce Soviet citizenship and
repeated the familiar position that all family members had to
return to Chernogorsk before they could expect action on their
case. Disheartened by the continued intransigence of Soviet
authorities towards her family's plight, Lidiya in late June
began a hunger strike in Chernogorsk, and on July 1 Augustina
and Liliya, Lidiya's sister, likewise began hunger strikes of
their own in the Embassy.
43
-4-
Once again, the Embassy did all it could to represent and
promote the family's interests, by making representations to
the Soviet Government on their behalf, facilitating
communications between the Vashchenkos and their supporters in
the West, and monitoring the health of Liliya and Augustina
closely. The recurrence of Augustina's colitis increased our
concern, even though during the second hunger strike the
Vashchenkos occasionally took fruit juices to reduce the
harmful effects of the fast. Nevertheless, despite such
precautions, the hunger strike produced potentially worrisome
medical side effects, and it took the Embassy and the family's
supporters more than two months to convince Augustina and
Liliya to abandon their hunger strike, which they officially
ended on September 13. As before, the Soviet Government
remained unmoved.
Most recently, twelve members of the Vashchenko family were
permitted by Soviet authorities to come to Moscow in order to
visit their family members in the Embassy. The Embassy had
made clear before the trip began that in order to ensure a
successful visit only two members of the Chernogorsk
Vashchenkos would be allowed to enter the Embassy at one time,
with visits of the twelve being spaced over several hours or
several days, and that none of the visitors would be able to
stay overnight in the Embassy, although the Embassy would help
the visitors in seeking housing elsewhere. Unfortunately, the
Chernogorsk Vashchenkos and the members of the family inside
44
-5-
the Embassy refused to meet with each other in accordance with
these arrangements once the trip had begun, and we were unable
to persuade. them to agree to do so during the time of their
stay in Moscow. As discussions with the Vashchenkos were
continuing on this problem, Soviet authorities last week
instructed the visiting Vashchenkos to leave Moscow, and we
understand they are now in Ryazan. We are continuing
discussions on this matter with the Vashchenkos and with the
Soviets. We hope that a visit under the appropriate conditions
can be arranged soon, and that the Soviet authorities will
reconsider their decision to order the visiting Vashchenkos out
of Moscow. Meanwhile, we will continue our efforts to secure
the emigration of all the members of the Vashchenko and
Chmykhalov families.
The preceding chronology covers only the major developments
in the cases of the two families over the past year. It is a
sober history, and I put it before you at a moment -- the
holiday season -- that would be a particularly welcome occasion
to bring it to a happy end, and let these good people pursue
their religious faith and practice in an environment of their
choice. For the sad present, however we must draw the lessons
of that history. I believe there are two: a clear record of
U.S. Government support for the Pentecostalists' goal, and an
equally clear record of Soviet unwillingness to act on their
request under any terms except those defined by the
authorities. For more than two decades these two families have
45
-6-
sought nothing more ambitious than their basic human right to
an environment in which they can freely express their religious
convictions. As a result of their beliefs, the members of
these families have been visited with every sort / of harassment,
ranging from verbal abuse and insinuations, through physical
abuse and economic penalities, up to imprisonment and forcible
separation of family members. Even to this day, the Soviet
authorities maintain the precondition that before their
applications to emigrate will be considered again, all the
members of the family, including those currently in the
Embassy, must first reside in their hometown of Chernogorsk,
Siberia.
Despite the Soviet Government's record of inflexibility on
this issue, the United States Government continues to stand
firmly behind the Chmykhalovs and the Vashchenkos in their
efforts to emigrate. The Department of State shares the
frustration which the intransigent attitude of the Soviet
authorities has caused among the Embassy Pentecostalists and
their supporters, and we are in favor of every reasonable
s
initiative which might contribute to the common goal --
emigration for the Pentecostalist families. But we must also
note that the major criterion by which any proposed action to
help the Pentecostalists must be evaluated is its
effectiveness: that is, does the proposed action help or hinder
the family's chances for emigration? In this regard, we try to
be particularly careful that our justifiable dissatifaction
-7-
over the lack of progress on the situation of the Vashchenkos
and Chmykhalovs is not translated into measures which could
prejudice -- perhaps forever -- the families' chances to
emigrate. It is in this spirit that we believe the bill before
us today should be carefully examined.
For those of us who are frustrated over the Soviet
Government's unwillingness to resolve favorably the plight of
the Pentecostalists, S 312 appears to offer the opportunity to
do something positive. The Vashchenko and Chmykhalov families
themselves are highly in favor of this legislation. They
believe that its passage will demonstrate the U.S. Government's
official and permanent commitment to their cause. That this
would be a significant morale booster for the families as well
as for their supporters cannot be disputed, and is a point in
favor of the bill.
S
S312
At the same time, it is worth noting that
is
not
needed to permit the U.S. Government to document the members of
either or both families for entry into the United States. Such
documentation can be easily and quickly accomplished under the
provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act and the
Refugee Act of 1980. It is not U.S. law that stands in the way
of these families, but rather Soviet policy, which the Soviet
authorities insist is based on Soviet law and regulation.
47
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Section 3 of the
bill provides that the members of
the Vashchenko and Chmykhalov families currently residing in
refuge in the Embassy will be considered physically present and
residing in the United States since June 27, 1978, when they
entered the Embassy. This provision suggests reliance on the
concept of extra-territoriality-- the idea that the land occupied
by an Embassy is part and parcel of the sovereign territory of
the sending state. This is a concept that has no foundation in
international law and that has been long rejected by the United
States and the international community in general. Consequently,
while our Embassy and its compound in the USSR are inviolable
under international law, and while we are able to extend our
protection to the Pentecostalist families as long as they
continue to live in refuge within the Embassy, legally they
remain Soviet citizens, residing in the Soviet Union and subject
to Soviet laws. The United States cannot, whether by legislation
or any other means, unilaterally alter this basic legal situation.
In considering the merits of this bill, our primary
criterion must be its effect on the achievement of the
families' ultimate goal - emigration from the Soviet Union.
One aspect of this question is the likely effect the bill will
have on the Soviet Government, since it is responsible for the
families' current sad plight and since it alone has the power
to resolve the situation positively. There is no question that
should this bill be passed, under U.S. law the members of the
-9-
Vashchenko and Chmykhalov families will be legally permanent
resident aliens of the United States. However, in the eyes of
the Soviet Government their status will not have changed in any
way. The Soviets will continue to treat them as Soviet
citizens living in the USSR and subject to its laws and
regulations, as they are entitled to do under generally
accepted principles of international law. In addition the
312
Soviets would almost certainly view the passage of продали
as
an attempt to extend U.S. legislative jurisdiction to Soviet
citizens and, therefore, force them to take a position which
would further harden their attitude against the
Pentecostalists. The Soviet authorities would be motivated to
demonstrate to the Soviet citizenry and to the international
community that the U.S. Government cannot unilaterally accord
Soviet citizens some form of special status or protection under
U.S. law. The practical effect of this would almost certainly
be even greater intransigence on the part of the Soviet
Government on this issue.
There is no doubt that the events of the past year as I
have recounted them to you earlier in my testimony are most
disappointing. If anything, it would appear that the Soviet
position on the emigration request of the Pentecostalist
families has hardened. In view of the increased intransigence
of the Soviet Government, one can legitimately ask how this
bill could make the Soviets any less opposed to resolving the
families' plight.
-10-
We at the State Department have found from sad experience
that there is no quick and easy solution to the dilemma faced
by the Vashchenkos and Chmykhalovs. Given the current state of
our relations with the Soviet Union, it is not possible to be
optimistic that the Soviet authorities will change their
approach to the families' emigration applications anytime in
the near future. If they did, they could be sure of a positive
effect on U.S. Government attitudes and on U.S.-Soviet
bilateral relations and they know this to be true. So we
continue to be hopeful, if not optimistic. In the meantime,
however, we believe that we owe it to the families to keep all
their options open. It is our opinion that passage of this
bill would reduce rather than increase the chances that the
Soviets would in the future decide on a positive solution to
the Pentecostalists' problem. Our past efforts on behalf of
these families have not been successful, but we will continue
to work for them and remain hopeful that in time a solution
will be found. We believe that eventually a time and situation
must come when the Soviets will finally see that it is in their
best interests to allow the families to leave the USSR. But we
cannot support actions that -- in our view, based on our
experience in dealing with the Soviets over the years -- are on
balance unlikely to help achieve the objective we and the
families hold dear -- emigration from the USSR to the country
of their choice.
50
-11-
We believe that over the past four and a half years the
Department of State has demonstrated beyond any reasonable
doubt our determination to assist the Vashchenko and Chmykhalov
families in any way we can to achieve their goal of emigrating
from the USSR. If we believed that the passage of S 312 could
really help the families, we would be the first to endorse it.
Unfortunately, however, we must conclude that its passage will
only close Soviet minds, and postpone the day when they decide
the families' case in a positive light. This remains our
problem with the bill, and the reason why the Department is
unable to testify in favor of it.
To: DICK MORRIS 51 12/22/
FROM! PAULA DOBRIANSKY
Pentacost
I am writing in response to your letter concerning the Pentecostalists
who are living in refuge at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. These
two families -- Vashchenko and Chmykhalov -- have long desired
to emigrate from the Soviet Union.
As you are aware, the ultimate responsibility for the resolution
of the plight of these individuals lies squarely with the Soviet
government which refuses to allow them to leave the USSR. To
date, Soviet authorities have not seen fit on either legal or
humanitarian grounds to assure the families that they and 22 of
their close relatives in their home town of Chernogorsk will be
permitted to emigrate. The families have received invitations
from a number of supporters in the United States and the U.S.
Government stands ready to issue entry visas for them immediately
once they receive permission to leave the Soviet Union. A number
of Western governments including our own have urged the Soviet
government to grant them that permission.
Unfortunately, the Soviet government has not been positive.
Lidiya Vashchenko has been officially informed that her exit visa
application as well as those of her relatives will not be formally
accepted for processing until the family members at the Embassy
also return to Chernogorsk. The Vashchenko and Chmykhalov families
in Chernogorsk have encountered surveillance, harassment and a
variety of procedural obstacles in their emigration application.
Our government regards this new manifestation of Soviet intransigence
and insensitivity to the families' plight as a deplorable disregard
for their their individual rights and those general human right
principles enunciated in a number of international agreements to
which the Soviet Union is a signatory.
Meanwhile, we have made it clear to the six family members remaining
in the Embassy that they are free to remain there in refuge.
We appreciate your concern for the welfare of the Pentacostalists
and for their desire to emigrate to a place where they may live
in freedom. The United States Government is doing everything
possible to assist them in fulfilling this desire.
**Other points you may want to include:
--the Pentecostalists have received considerable high level USG
attention
--the USG has made numerous representations to Soviet authorities
(at all levels) on their behalf
--in November, they met with Vice President Bush and Secretary Shultz
in Moscow who both reaffirmed the Administration's firm commitment
to do everything possible to secure exit visas
--the Embassy has provided them with the best medical care; we have
a doctor and a nurse practitioner who have performed periodic
examinations
--none of them are on a hunger strike at this time.
Pentecoslales
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52
MEMORANDUM
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
SECRET
SENSITIVE
March 2, 1983
ACTION
MEMORANDUM FOR WILLIAM P. CLARK
FROM:
PAULA DOBRIANSKY
SUBJECT:
Soviet Message on Embassy Pentecostalists
Attached at Tab A is a memorandum from Secretary Shultz to the
President concerning a message on the Pentecostalists delivered
to State by Minister-Counselor Oleg Sokolov of the Soviet
Embassy. At Tab I is a memorandum from you to the President
which forwards the Secretary's memorandum.
RECOMMENDATION
That your forward the memorandum at Tab I to the President.
Approve
Disapprove
Attachments:
Tab I
Memorandum to the President
Tab A
Memorandum from Secretary Shultz, February 28
CC: John Lenczowski
Carnes Lord
Roger Robinson
William Stearman
DECLASSIFIED
SECRET
SENSITIVE
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1372
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SECRET
SENSITIVE
INFORMATION
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
WILLIAM P. CLARK
SUBJECT:
Soviet Message on Embassy Pentecostalists
George Shultz forwarded you a memorandum (Tab A) concerning a
message on the Pentecostalists delivered to State by the Minister-
Counselor at the Soviet Embassy, Sokolov. The message reiterates
the standard Soviet position that the U.S. bears full responsibility
for both keeping the Pentecostals in the U.S. Embassy and for
encouraging them to leave. It also states that the families
will not be persecuted if they leave and "the question of their
leaving the USSR will be considered," with "account taken of
all the circumstances involved."
Based on the tone of his discussions with Sokolov, George
speculates that the Soviets may want to resolve this long-
standing problem. He asserts that although this message adheres
to the standard line, Soviet authorities may in fact permit the
Pentecostalists to emigrate once they return home. After George
discusses this matter further with Ambassador Hartman, he will
forward you his recommendations.
While this interpretation of Soviet actions cannot be ruled out,
I am skeptical that the Soviets have any intention of permitting
the Pentecostalists to leave. In February 1982, one of the
Pentecostalists, Lidiya Vashchenko did return to Chernogorsk on
the condition (as promised by Soviet authorities) that her exit
visa application be reviewed. Since that time, she has been
prevented from applying for emigration. Hence, if we are to
convince the families to leave the Embassy, clear assurances by
a high-level Soviet official that the Pentecostalists will be
permitted to emigrate should be attained.
Prepared by:
Paula Dobriansky
Attachment:
Tab A
Memorandum from Secretary Shultz, February 28
DECLASSIFIED
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SENSITIVE
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THE SECRETARY OF STATE
1372
WASHINGTON
SECRET/SENSITIVE
February 28, 1983
To:
THE PRESIDENT
From:
George P. Shultz
Subject:
Soviet Message on Embassy Pentecostalists
Dobrynin is ill, and called to ask that I receive his
Minister-Counselor, Sokolov, briefly this afternoon. Sokolov
brought with him the text of a message from Moscow on the
Pentecostalists in our Embassy there. The text is attached.
The message begins with the standard Soviet line that we
are responsible for both the problem -- keeping Soviet citizens
in the Embassy -- and the solution -- making them leave. It
also reiterates previous statements that the Soviets will not
"persecute" them if they leave. Then, in what Sokolov
described as "the constructive part" of the message, it says
that if they return to their home town in Siberia, "the
question of their leaving the USSR will be considered," with
"account taken of all the circumstances involved."
Formally, this does not go beyond what the Soviets have
said before. Nevertheless, the Soviets are obviously trying to
be responsive to your deep interest in the Pentecostalists'
plight. Thus, although the written message keeps their formal
line intact, they may in fact be offering a kind of assurance
that emigration will be permitted if the families return home
first.
There are two problems with this. First, the families have
had several lifetimes of broken promises, and it may take a
great deal more than this sort of vague and masked assurance
(if that is what it is) to convince them to leave their refuge
in the Embassy and apply for emigration from home. Second,
given the vagueness of the message, we should be skeptical too.
I will be reviewing the issue of how we should respond, and
will want to get the views of Ambassador Art Hartman, who will
be here for consultations next week. I will then be giving you
my recommendations.
Attachment: As stated
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BY KML NARA DATE 4/7/2011
SECRET/SENSITIVE
TEXT OF SOVIET MESSAGE ON PENTECOSTALISTS
We already explained to the American side our principled
position on this subject. Keeping Soviet citizens in the U.S.
Embassy for such a long time is clearly illegal and abnormal.
Their further stay there only aggravates the situation, and the
responsibility for that fully rests with the American side.
The resolution of this issue depends precisely on the American
side: the above mentioned persons should leave the U.S.
Embassy.
In this connection we can say definitely that no one is
going to persecute them, there are no such intentions.
Accordingly, after those persons return to the place of their
residence, the question of their leaving the USSR will be
considered. It will be done with account taken of all the
circumstances involved in this matter.
SECRET/SENSITIVE