An eighth member of the group. 17year old John Vashchenko. was grabbed by the guards. captured and beaten almost to death. and sent back to Chernogorsk. The Embassys haven for the Siberian Seven consisted of 300 square feet of makeshift living area. with only the barest of accommodations. Peter and Augustina occupied one of the two beds. and Maria slept on the other. The remaining four younger people slept on the floor. Although subject to continual. nerveracking harassment from both inside and outside the Embassy. the refugees bravely held on day to day not knowing even what the next hour would bring. In January 1983. Lida Vashchenko left the Embassy after being hospitalized with complications from her widely publicized. 34day fast.
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refugees