HARASSMENT OF IREX PROFESSOR IN LENINGRAD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87-00812R000100010008-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 28, 2012
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: August 5, 1984
• Content Type: CABLE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/11: CIA-RDP87-00812R000100010008-5
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PAGE 001
TOP: 060942Z AUG 84
00 RUEAIIB
ZNY CCCCC ZOC STATE ZZH
STU8O12
00 RUEHC
DE RUEHMO #9834 2190931
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
0 060931Z AUG 84
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0959
INFO RUEHIA/USIA WASHDC PRIORITY 7995
RUFHLG/AMCONSUL LENINGRAD PRIORITY 8208
BT
C O N F I D E N T I A L
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SOV AND CA/OCS; USIA LEMAITRE PASS
SUBSTANCE IREX
E. 0. 12356: N/A
TAGS: CASC, UR. US(CHERON, GEORGE)
SUBJECT: HARASSMENT OF IREX PROFESSOR IN LENINGRAD
2. SUMMARY: SUMMER IREX GRANTEE GEORGE CHERON WAS
PICKED UP BY PLAINCLOTHES MEN IN LENINGRAD JULY 28 AND
TAKEN TO POLICE STATION WHERE HE WAS QUESTIONED FOR TWO
HOURS. HE WAS DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTACT THE
CONSULATE. HE WAS RELEASED AFTER SIGNING A STATEMENT.
END SUMMARY.
3. USC GEORGE CHERON, DPOB 8/23/52 CALIFORNIA BEARER
OF U.S. PASSPORT 030713390 ISSUED 12/23/83, VISITED
THE CONSULAR SECTION AUGUST 3 TO RELATE STORY OF HIS
JULY 28 DETENTION IN LENINGRAD. CHERON, WHO TEACHES
RUSSIAN AT CAL TECH ARRIVED IN THE SOVIET UNION UNDER
IREX SPONSORSHIP DUNE 26 AS PART OF SUMMER EXCHANGE OF
LANGUAGE TEACHERS. HE HAS SPENT HIS TIME IN MOSCOW WITH
THE EXCEPTION OF THREE DAYS IN LENINGRAD. HE HAS BEEN
MEETING WITH SCHOLARS AND POETS, BUT NOT, HE CLAIMS.
PERSONS WHO COULD BE REGARDED AS DISSIDENTS. IN LENINGRAD
CHERON HOPED TO MEET IVAN MARTINEF.WHOM HE DESCRIBES AS
A WIDELY PUBLISHED SPECIALIST IN 18TH CENTURY RUSSIAN
LITERATURE. HE PHONED HIM FROM THE HOTEL AND SET UP A
MEETING FOR 3:00 P.M.
4. UPON ENTERING MARTINEF'S APARTMENT. CHERON NOTICED A
MAN LOITERING NEAR THE ELEVATOR. THIS INDIVIDUAL INQUIRED
WHOM CHERON WAS VISITING, WHEN HE GAVE MARTINEF'S NAME
CHERON SAID THREE OTHER MEN "APPEARED FROM THE WOODWORK"
AND SEIZED HIM. THEY TOOK HIS PASSPORT AND VISA AND
SHOVED HIM OUT THE DOOR AND INTO A PADDY WAGON WHICH HAD
APPEARED AT THE CURB. CHERDN WAS DRIVEN OFF TO A POLICE
STATION ACCOMPANIED BY THE FOUR PLAINCLOTHES MEN.
5. AT THE STATION CHERON WAS QUESTIONED FOR APPROXIMATELY
TWO HOURS. HE ASKED TO CALL THE CONSULATE AND WAS TOLD
CONFIDENTIAL
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/11: CIA-RDP87-00812R000100010008-5
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IT WAS CLOSED. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS CHERON
ASKED TO HAVE A CONSULAR OFFICER PRESENT DURING THE
INTERVIEW. THE MILITIA OFFICER TOLD CHERON THIS WASN'T
NECESSARY.CITING THE NEW LAW WHICH TOOK EFFECT JULY 1,
HE SAID SOVIET LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT FOREIGNERS BE
GRANTED ACCESS TO THEIR CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVES UNLESS
THEY ARE BEING DEPORTED. CHERON WAS ORDERED TO EMPTY
HIS POCKETS AND BRIEF CASE AND WAS FRISKED. ALL HIS
PAPERS WERE SUBJECT TO CLOSE SCRUTINY INCLUDING AN
EMBASSY WIRELESS FILE WHICH MILITA LABELED TAMIZDAT.
ACCORDING TO CHERON, WHO SPEAKS EXCELLENT RUSSIAN, THAT
PARTICULAR ISSUE OF THE WIRELESS FILE CONTAINED AN ARTICLE
ON SAKHAROV'S HUNGER STRIKE, WHICH HIS INTERVIEWERS
COMMENTED ON EXTENSIVELY WITHOUT ONCE DENYING ITS
VALIDITY. AS HE WAS BEING QUESTIONED ABOUT HIS DESIRE
TO MEET WITH MARTINEF, CHERON ASKED WHETHER FOREIGNERS
HAD THE RIGHT TO MEET WITH SOVIETS. THE MILITIA
OFFICER ALLOWED THAT THEY DID, BUT SAID SUCH MEETINGS
SHOULD TAKE PLACE AT SOVIET'S INSTITUTE.I.E., PLACE OF
WORK.
6. CHERON WAS RELEASED AFTER HE SIGNED A STATEMENT IN
WHICH HE STATED HE HAD BEEN PLANNING A MEETING WITH
MARTINEF, DESCRIBED AS A"SPECULATOR" AND IN WHICH HE
APOLOGIZED FOR THE INCONVENIENCE HE HAD CAUSED TO THE
LOCAL AUTHORITIES AS WELL AS TO HIMSELF. HE ALSO SIGNED
A STATEMENT ACCOUNTING FOR THE VARIOUS SLIPS OF PAPER
AND WIRELESS FILE WHICH HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM HIM.
7. EMBASSY PLANS TO PROTEST DENIAL OF CONSULAR ACCESS
IN VIOLATION OF U.S.-USSR CONSULAR CONVENTION.
8. PRIVACY ACT WAIVER SIGNED.
HARTMAN
END OF MESSAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/11: CIA-RDP87-00812R000100010008-5