U.S. Embassy in Moscow May Be White Elephant

Work may have to be halted indefinitely on the new U.S. Embassy in Moscow because “sophisticated listening devices have been implanted in everything,” U.S. News & World Report reported Saturday. Soviet workers are building the embassy under American supervision.

The news magazine, in next week’s issue, said the seriousness of the problems was unmasked by American investigators combing the eight-story building this month. The State Department was prompted to agree to congressional demands for a top-to-bottom inspection by outside experts.

Construction is five years behind schedule and $80 million over budget. Some experts in the intelligence community suggest the $167-million building may have to be demolished before it is completed.

“Sophisticated listening devices have been implanted in everything from precast floors and prefabricated concrete columns to steel beams,” the magazine said.

The new problems with the embassy could further complicate relations between the two countries. Soviet families already have moved into a new embassy complex in Washington but, by agreement, diplomats cannot occupy offices there until work is finished on the U.S. facility in Moscow.