BURMA: Knock for Freedom

• Share

Two months ago a desperate military attache in Russia's Burmese embassy. Colonel Mikhail I. Stryguine, tried to leap to freedom from his hospital window, was nabbed by Russian goons, spirited off to Rangoon airport, and flown away in a Communist plane (TIME, May 18). Last week another Russian embassy staffer there wanted out. This time he made it.

Aleksandr Yurievich Kaznacheev, 27, information officer for more than a year, walked into the U.S. embassy and requested asylum with a simple, eloquent statement of his circumstances and a fine command of English. Said he: "I desire a life of freedom, which is not possible for a citizen of the U.S.S.R." Talking with Burmese newsmen later, he said that "the main occupation of all the Soviet embassy staff in Rangoon is to spy," that Russia and Red China cooperate closely in espionage activities in Burma, but that "my personal opinion, based on my knowledge, is that the main role is played by Communist China."

Like Colonel Stryguine, Kaznacheev's small child had not been allowed to accompany him to Burma. What will happen to his family now, he was asked. "Normally, nothing good can be expected."