This sensational story is currently on all major Ukrainian newspapers.

As soon as the two Soviet tourists Mr. and Mrs. Skrizhevskiy landed in America, they immediately appealed for political asylum. Well, it was almost twenty years ago. And after collapse of the USSR, political motivation of their escaping lost the sense. However, waiting for their deportation, they managed to stay in the US for 17 years!
For that time they earned enough to buy all the personal property they wanted, including several houses! Sounds like the famous American dream? Not so fast.

A year ago, the couple was arrested on the ground they lied to police officer, who asked them the simple question: "Citizens of what country you are?"
Obviously, they said the came from the Soviet Union, with passports of the former USSR. And according to American laws, they cannot be deported to the country that does not exist!

"No" - said the police. "You are attempting to hide your real citizenship. We know you are ... Ukrainians."
Indeed, the Donetsk city, where Skrizhevskiy lived before their trip to America, is currently located in Ukraine (a part of the former USSR). But officially, the couple never stayed in the country with the name Ukraine. Moreover, they never applied for Ukrainian citizenship!
Surprisingly, Ukraine accepted that Skrizhevskiy are Ukrainians: It seems its local authorities were lost in the complexity of international laws too.

In result, Skrizhevskiy were handcuffed, "loaded" to the airplane, and deported to Ukraine, - with the only accepted property of $20.
There is a serious suspicion that was a main reason for the departure: Somebody in America simply wanted to get all the property of the couple. In particular, their houses.

But the story is not over yet.
Appeared in Ukraine, Skrizhevsky spent a half of the year by suing their native state for providing false information to US authorities, - and won!
They proved in the court they are not Ukrainians.
Now, they will need to prove they are Americans...


1. Story of Skrizhevskiy started from breaking the law!
Well, it might be quite legal in the eyes of professional lawyer. But for the most of ordinary people, - betrayal is always betrayal!
Don't ask me whether Skrizhevskiy committed a crime or not. Formally, the Soviet law does not exist today. However, it did at the moment Skrizhevskiy escaped the country without proper authorization. In any case, the story started from Skrizhevskiy's lie. They officially said to both Soviet and American authorities they want to visit USA as tourists only.

2. The only reason why Skrizhevskiy wanted to change their Motherland was the money!
Forget about high ideals, - it's a rather selfish story about pragmatic dream for personal prosperity. Listen to what Igor Skrizhevsky says in his interviews to Ukrainian press:"At the time of 'perestroyka' there was a terrifying gangsterism, racket... I saw there could be problems to get a job".

Was something really unique about Mr. Skrizhevskiy? He dreamt to live in a stable, rich country. Who on the earth didn't? What about the rest of the people in his town, and in the whole country? They experienced the same kind of suffering. Don't you think they lived on a different planet?

3. Now I'm thinking of myself:

I WAS BORN IN DONETSK, UKRAINE TOO!
And it was in the country that doesn't exist anymore, - USSR.
At the time Skrizhevskiy moved to USA, I just graduated University and worked as Engineer, - for 140 rubles per month.

Unlike Skrizhevsky, I had a lucky chance to visit the USA several times. I never had severe language problems, as English was my hobby. And from the day one, I felt in America much MORE COMFORTABLE than in my native country!
But I never planned to stay there just because I wanted to. I knew I had very little legal reasons for that. Well, as little as Skrizhevsky had..

Unlike me, Mr. Skrizhevsky crossed the line of the law without any hesitation.
And guess what, - he had *LIVED* in a rich country for almost twenty years!

Now Skrizhevskiy's family is back in Ukraine. Now they complain they became NOBODY, with no job, no house, no passport.
Common, guys! There are a lot of jobs here (obviously, - without American salaries). There is a lot of good houses (obviously, the ones I will never afford to buy). And you can get Ukrainian passport very quickly, -- if you WISH!

We are about the same age. But for the same period of life, the financial status we achieved is strikingly different. They've got savings in American bank, SEVERAL houses, etc.
Simply because some day in the past they crossed the line!

I am not saying Skrizhevskiy are bad guys (who i am to judge people?).
I sincerely wish them good luck! And I'm sure they will win.
Unlike me, they have money for lawyers. More important, their chances are greatly increasing as media starts writing about them.
Unlike me, they are going to be heroes soon ...

Couple days ago I sent an Open Letter to the US President!
But I doubt he will ever respond. For me, who lived ALL his life fair, it's practically impossible to achieve the same kind of media attention for