Waiting for Mr. Reagan

A tiny room in the basement of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow could soon yield some large clues to the Reagan Administration’s policy toward human rights in the Soviet Union.

For more than two and one-half years the room has been the cramped home of seven Siberian Christians—five members of the Vashchenko family and two members of the Chmykhalov family— who journeyed to the Embassy back on June 27, 1978 to seek counseling about emigration from the USSR. What was intended to be a brief visit was transformed into one of the longest asylums in diplomatic history when the Soviet guards that surround the Embassy attempted to prevent the families—the Siberian Seven—from entering. But the guards only snared one member of the group, Ioann Vashchenko, one of the Vashchenkos’ sons. By the time the Soviets released him 13 days later, the families had reached a pivotal decision. Certain that the authorities would punish them for their stay, they vowed to remain in the Embassy until the Soviets granted one request: permission to emigrate. Permission has yet to be granted.

KL

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Kevin Lynch

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Religious Persecution

Moscow

A tiny room in the basement of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow could soon yield some large clues to the Reagan Administration’s policy toward human rights in the Soviet Union.

For more than two and one-half years the room has been the cramped home of seven Siberian Christians—five members of the Vashchenko family and two members of the Chmykhalov family— who journeyed to the Embassy back on June 27, 1978 to seek counseling about emigration from the USSR. What was intended to be a brief visit was transformed into one of the longest asylums in diplomatic history when the Soviet guards that surround the Embassy attempted to prevent the families—the Siberian Seven—from entering. But the guards only snared one member of the group, Ioann Vashchenko, one of the Vashchenkos’ sons. By the time the Soviets released him 13 days later, the families had reached a pivotal decision. Certain that the authorities would punish them for their stay, they vowed to remain in the Embassy until the Soviets granted one request: permission to emigrate. Permission has yet to be granted.