(2 of 2)
To put an abrupt stop to such Soviet activities, squads of Congolese police were rushed to cordon off the Russians' apartments, and inside, the Russians suddenly discovered themselves without telephone service and without electricity, which meant they would have to swelter in the heat without air conditioners and do without cookstoves. Two Czech diplomats who drove up to the gate were arrested and forced to stand outside most of the night in a tropical downpour.
From Moscow came an angry demand for the release of the prisoners, who, according to Izvestia, had been arrested by police led by "American advisers." Ignoring the protest, Adoula's agents next morning swooped down on the hotel room of another suspected Communist troublemaker, the newly arrived correspondent of the Soviet news agency Novisti, hustled him off to a cell. He was later released, but by week's end, the two Russian diplomats were put aboard Europe-bound planes. Usually hesitant Premier Adoula rejected his Cabinet's recommendation that diplomatic relations with Russia and Czechoslovakia be severed immediately. But he did order Ambassador Nemchina to pack up and get out of the Congo within 48 hours and take the entire 100-man staff with him.