As members of the Russian Pentecostal faith. they had come under severe pressure of all types while under Soviet rule. because their beliefs conflicted so sharply with the ideology of the Soviets. The families had tried since 1963 to leave the country. but to no avail. Finally. after 15 years. in 1978. while in Chernogorsk. they received an official invitation from a Presbyterian church in America to emigrate to the United States. But. the Soviets again denied them exit visas. Later that same year. the Chmykhalovs and the Vashchenkos returned again to Moscow to petition the Embassy for help. this time carrying with them a petition from the U.S. State Department.
Keywords matched
emigrate visas