The Medvid Incident-Senate Subpoena on Soviet Freighter Raises Legal and Political Questions

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Sunday, December 1, 1985
Author: 
Jay Rosenthal
Volume: 
1
Issue: 
4
Abstract: 
The Senate Agricultural Committee, chaired by Senator Jesse Helms, issued a subpoena on November 8, 1985, directing Soviet sailor Miroslav Medvid to appear before a special panel of Senators or members of the Committee for the purpose of asking Mr. Medvid whether he wanted to defect to the United States or not.  On November 9, 1985, David Sullivan, an aide to Senator Helms, attempted to deliver the subpoena to the captain of the Marshall Konev, the Soviet Freighter on which Mr. Medvid was allegedly being detained against his will, the same freighter from which Mr. Medvid twice before jumped ship into the Mississippi River ostensibly seeking political asylum.