Evening star., 1960-11-02
BY MARK KAMINSKY
(As Told to Peter Hahn

LAFAYETTE, IND, NOV. z
II was sitting in the sound
proof interrogation chamber
Of the Russian secret police
headquarters at Kiev. stunned
by what my questioner. Col.
Lysenko. had just told me:
I was suspected Of having
violated Article 2 Of the Soviet
criminal code. dealing with
especially dangerous crimes
against the state"
It was the article dealing
with espionage.
I had just been flown to
Kiev "for further investiga-
ton" of my case. The interro-
gators wanted to and out more
about why I had tried to take
the wrong check-point to
leave the country. and why !
had kept Q note book and diary
during q month-long motor
trip through Western Russia.
My friend and travelling COM
panion, Harvey Bennett, was
being held as a material wit
ness, confined to his hotel
room.
Now I was informed that the
Soviet government had ordered
my arrest.
Spoke In Russian
In addition to Col. Lysenko,
a lieutenant colonel from the
Red Army's Judge advocate
generals office had been as
signed to investigate the mill
tary aspects" Of my case. His
name was Arakchayev. He. too,
was present, together with an
interpreter named Adamski.
My questioners asked me
whether I wanted to speak
English or Russian during the
Interrogation. I said I would
just as soon speak in their
language, and would need ar
interpreter only for the clarifi.
cation Of the fine points oi
Soviet law.
Lysenko said that what was
happening now was an "officia
inquiry" and that everything
I said from this moment or
would be considered evidence
and could be used against me
Then. Arakchayev pulled out
a greyhound copy Of the $50
Wet criminal code" and began
to read to me my rights" as
a suspect. Among them were:
IL had the right" to an
swer all questions. But no men,
tion was made Of a right to re-
fuse an answer.
al had the right" to ad-
init my guilt. When I asked
about the Fifth Amendment. or
a similar provision under So
Wet law, my question was
brushed of as capitalist non-
sense"
81 had the right" to COM
plain about unfair treatment
by the interrogators. But their
previous attitudes already had
demonstrated how much good
this right" would do me.
Own Counsel, They Say
I then asked about my right
for counsel. and about my right
to see representative Of the
United States Embassy.
Lysenko answered: You have
a head on your shoulder. You
are your own counsel In this
investigation. And as for see
ing someone Of your Embassy,
the answer is-No!"
This opening exchange, and
a repitition Of my personal his
tory, all strictly for the rec
ord. took up most Of my first
afternoon at KGB head
quarters.
Later that night I was led
to the prison bathroom in an
adjoining building. It was a
large room with several metal
shower stalls. When taking a
shower. the prisoner is locked
inside a stall. handed a bar Of
CT soap, and the guards turn
on the water from the outside.
After the shower. I was
handed my "kit," consisting OF
sheets. a pillow case, and two
towels. and led back to the cell
block. The guards opened one
of the padlocked doors, and
stood inside the 6-by-10-foot
hole which was to be my home
for the next 40 days: Cell No
35. Voldamir street, third en-
trance.
The guard assigned to me. a
surly individual. said: 1--WE
don't expect any trouble from
you," meaning you-stay-in- line
and you won't get hurt.
looked around. There was q
cast-iron cot, a rather ornate
affair with lions claws holding
the metal frame, a night table
a stool and some shelves.
My inquiry about basic needs
was met with a silent gesture
toward a crude bucket stand
ing in a corner. But all told, the
cell was clean.
Alone to Think and Worry
The guard handed me two
bowls for food. a tea pot, and
a metal cup. He also gave me
a wooden spoon. Then he left
closing the heavy steel door
quietly behind him.
I was alone for the first time
since my detention. Alone I'd
think, alone to worry. more
alone than I had ever been
Moscow. the United States EN-