Soviet Seaman, 28, Defects in Sweden
A Soviet sailor who told Swedish police he did not like the Soviet system defected when his ship’s crew was allowed ashore for shopping, police said Wednesday.
Police spokesman Arne Jarhede said the man, 28, has a wife and 3-year-old son in the Soviet Union. His name was not given, but authorities said he is from Leningrad and was aboard the Soviet vessel Sibirsky, which arrived here Feb. 10.
Officials from the Soviet Embassy in Stockholm went to Norrkoping but the defector refused to meet them and left them a letter declaring he wanted to stay in Sweden, Jarhede said.
The National Board of Immigration will decide whether the sailor will be allowed to stay. Soviet defectors are usually given political asylum.
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