Mrs. OSWALD (no response).
Senator RUSSELL. Did any of your friends or relatives intercede with
the colonel in your behalf?*
*Mrs. OSWALD. My uncle works in the MVD, but I'm sure that he did not
discuss this matter of exit visas with Colonel Aksenov because I think
he would have been afraid to talk about it. When my uncle knew that
Lee and I were planning to go back to the United States, my uncle was
afraid for his own job and for his own welfare.
Senator RUSSELL. I knew you testified before that he did not want you
to come to the United States, that your uncle did not, but he was
working in the same line of work as this colonel was?*
Mrs. OSWALD. In the same building, but not in the same department. I
believe that Colonel Aksenov knew my uncle.
Senator RUSSELL. Yes; but you didn't testify before, I believe, that
your uncle would have been afraid to have helped you. You did testify
that he did not want you to leave Russia? That's the way I recall it. I
could be in error about that--do you know why he was afraid? Why should
he have been afraid for you to leave Russia?*
*Mrs. OSWALD. My uncle never told me personally that he was afraid that
something might happen to him if I went to America, but his wife, my
aunt, confided in me that my uncle was afraid for his job and for his
well-being if I went to America.
Senator RUSSELL. What rank did your uncle hold in the MVD? If this man
was a colonel, what was your uncle, was he a colonel or a major or
what?*
*Mrs. OSWALD. My uncle has a degree in forestry, but he is also a
colonel in MVD. Every employee has to be in the service, in the
military service. He has a degree in forestry, but he is also a colonel
in MVD.