Soviet Defector Sworn In as U.S. Citizen

WASHINGTON — Arkady N. Shevchenko, the highest-ranking Soviet official ever to defect to the West, raised his right hand, put his left hand on a Bible and swore Friday to be a loyal citizen of the United States.

“This is one of the finest moments of my life,” Shevchenko told well-wishers gathered for the swearing-in ceremony at a Washington hotel. But he also spoke of sadness.

“I was more than glad to break with the Soviet Union but not with the Soviet people,” said the 55-year-old former United Nations undersecretary general, who was a spy for the United States for nearly three years before he defected.

Relatives Left Behind

When Shevchenko defected, he left behind in the Soviet Union a son, daughter and other relatives.

After Shevchenko was sworn by federal Judge Alex Kozinski, himself a Soviet emigre, he was kissed and embraced by his American wife of seven years, Elaine.

In the Soviet fashion, Shevchenko returned the applause of the audience before joining them at a reception.

Arriving minutes before the ceremony, Shevchenko came in from the cold and walked briskly to the hotel’s Senate Room, stopping only to shake a few hands and autograph copies of his book, “Breaking with Moscow.”

Plans for Another Book

Minutes later, he had renounced all allegiance to the country he still calls his “motherland” and sworn to defend the United States, “so help me God.”

In brief remarks later, Shevchenko said he was “sincerely grateful” to the U.S. government officials who have helped him to adjust.