British Give Asylum to Anatoly Kuznetzov, Soviet Author of Book on Babi Yar

The British Home Office announced today that Britain had granted asylum to Anatoly Kuznetzov, the Soviet author who was bitterly assailed by Soviet sources for a book which stressed that most victims of the Nazi massacre at Babi Yar were Jews. The liberal Soviet writer was reported missing yesterday from his hotel in London after arriving on the same plane carrying lecturer Gerald Brooke, who was exchanged by the Soviets for Russian spies.

The Home Office said that Home Secretary James Callaghan had personally granted the Soviet writer’s request to remain in Britain but he said permission was not given on political grounds. A British publisher said earlier he believed Mr. Kuznetsov had defected to the West.