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shocked, and angry, to finally realize that the top of the fences were angled in--back toward the Soviet Union and not out toward the "hostile" West.

It clearly crystalized in my mind that this entire network of fences and guards was not intended to keep invaders out--but rather to keep the Soviet citizen in. We were prisoners in our own society.

From my hiding place at the border I was able to barely see three border patrol guards. I assumed that they could not see me since the standard military issue binoculars in the Soviet Union is only 5-X power, my binoculars were 10-X power field glasses.

uneventful.

Due the grace of God, my crossing the three fences was I am certain I set off some type of alarms, however, since a Soviet helicopter was launched and attacked me while I was on Turkish soil. I was able to survive the attacks once again due to my previous military training where I had been taught that helicopter crews have a far more spotting a stationary target than they do one

Thus, I merely stayed behind clumps of bushes helicopter made a pass overhead.

difficult time

that's moving.

whenever the

I later went to a Turkish control point and turned myself
I had taken 19 days to hike out during

over to the authorities.

which time I had lost 20 kilos in weight, approximately

pounds.

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Eventually my passage

I stayed in Turkey for about 3 weeks. to Munich was arranged. While there, I had an opportunity to work part-time as a broadcaster for Radio LIberty. I especially wanted to do this so my family could hear my voice and know I was alive. I remained there for 8 months until I obtained a visa to

New York.

When I arrived in the United States on January 29, 1985, I was put into contact with the International Rescue Committee which arranged temporary housing in Harlem and a modest amount for spending money for a few months. I also arranged through them a few low-paying jobs (photographer-assistant, for instance) though none that were related to my previous experiences.

In May of 1985, I was put into contact with the Jamestown Foundation which assisted me in moving to Washington and finding temporary work house-sitting in the Maryland suburbs. These efforts gave me an opportunity to work on a book describing my defection which I am pleased to announce has been accepted by Alfred Knopf Publishing Company for eventual release in the beginning of 1988. It is entitled "In The KGB Gunsights."

Through the assistance of relatives of Christian Sizemore, the President of Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia, for the last six months I have been able to work on a second book which attempts to reduplicate the manuscript I was working on in Odessa in 1984 when the KGB seized it. In addition, I was able, on my own, to obtain employment as a Russian language and culture instructor for the Foreign Service Institute. Unfortunately, this is merely on a contractual basis which does not provide any medical or retirement benefits.

Needless to say, I am very grateful to the many Americans who have helped me. I am also grateful to this country that has accepted me as a refugee. I am particularly indebted to the actions of the Jamestown Foundation, the I.R.C. and AldersonBroaddus College.

However, what does surprise me and, what I believe must also concern this Committee, is the absence of a clearly designated and adequately funded system for the resettlement of defectors from the communist-world. My comparatively successful adaptation conditioned

by a chain of fortunate

in the U.S. was circumstances, but in order to solve the problem of defectors we cannot rely upon fortunate circumstances. Moreover, it seems to me that I and many of my friends who fled communism could be of more useful service to this great country if we were given the opportunity to tell the government and the people what we know about how the Communist world really works.

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as long as the

Therefore, it appears to me that as long as this is true and Communist bloc continues to conceal its inner-workings from the West, the defector is an important tool for understanding our common opponent and learning what his

peculiarities are.

I would hope that this Subcommittee develops an appropriate and properly funded mechanism that better utilizes the defector resource. At the same time, I hope that the Congress will advance a system that also addresses the unique problems the defector faces in resettling here in the United States.

The question of assistance to Communist bloc defectors remains grave and must be addressed. In my view, the following must be done in order to resolve the problem:

1. Creation inside the appropriate government agency of a small department dedicated to working with defectors.

2. A provision for the appropriation of sufficient funds in the Department's budget to cover housing expenses for a fixed period of time, language instruction and career placement of the

defector.

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3. A system of low interest

retraining would be appropriate.

loans for education and

In return for this assistance,

the defector would be required to do work for the government in either translating or analysis. He could be paid to write about his experiences for the government while he is also developing new skills, etc. in this country. The compensated by the benefit of his knowledge.

government will be

4. One staff member of the Department should be a former defector who is thoroughly familiar with adjustment problems and defector's language..

5. A regulation, granting (early) citizenship to defectors in those cases, where U.S. citizenship is a requirement for

employment considerations.

6. One objective of the (newly-created) Department should be the dissemination of information about defectors' activities

both inside and outside of the United States.

As a result, our mutual efforts will help defend freedom in the United States, in the Communist bloc countries and in the world on the whole.

Thank you yor your attention.

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