This episode led to the first of six attempts the family has made to seek help from the American Embassy. The Embassy could do nothing. however. and Peter Vashchenko remained in prison for 2 years and the children stayed in the orphanage for over 6 years. In 1968. the second appeal for emigration was made. This time the family has successfully obtained an invitation from the American consulate to emigrate. After traveling the 2.000 miles from their Siberian home in Chernogorsk to the Embassy in Moscow. Soviet police arrested Peter outside the Embassy. He was placed in a psychiatric hospital for 2 months and then sent to prison for 1 year. His examiner told him that his insanity manifested itself in a desire to emigrate. Peters wife. Augustina. was also imprisoned and was later placed in a labor camp for 3 years.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration