Speech #990118220

Let us review the circumstances of this bizarre story. On the night of October 24. Seaman Medvid leaped off the Marshal Konev and swam a quarter mile to the shore. lie was interviewed by immigration officials. but none of whom spoke or understood Russian. They relied on an interpretor who contended that he told immigration officials that Medvid was seeking asylum. The immigration service disagreed and contended that no request for asylum was made. Following the Interview agents of the Border Patrol tried to return him to the Marshal Kornv but he again sought his freedom by jumping from their small boat. He was then forced onto the ship in handcuffs by a ships officer and five shipmates. Sometime in the ensuing 3 days.