RUSSIA: Visas at a Price

No matter how much they may have wanted to leave Russia, Soviet citizens have had to stay home and work for their State. Exit visas have simply not been issued, except to a few privileged persons (mostly members of the Communist Party) for "reasons of State." Aged relatives in Russia of "White Russians" abroad have been especially treasured by the Soviet Government as likely to receive remittances in valuta (foreign money) which is needed for the Five-Year Plan. Grant such people an exit visa? Not likely!

Abruptly last week the unlikely happened, as...

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