Senator Russell. Did any of your friends or relatives intercede with the colonel in your behalf?*
*Mrs. Oswald. My uncle works in the MVD, but I'm sure that he did not discuss this matter of exit visas with Colonel Aksenov because I think he would have been afraid to talk about it. When my uncle knew that Lee and I were planning to go back to the United States, my uncle was afraid for his own job and for his own welfare.
Senator Russell. I knew you testified before that he did not want you to come to the United States, that your uncle did not, but he was working in the same line of work as this colonel was?*
Mrs. Oswald. In the same building, but not in the same department. I believe that Colonel Aksenov knew my uncle.
Senator Russell. Yes; but you didn't testify before, I believe, that your uncle would have been afraid to have helped you. You did testify that he did not want you to leave Russia? That's the way I recall it. I could be in error about that—do you know why he was afraid? Why should he have been afraid for you to leave Russia?*
*Mrs. Oswald. My uncle never told me personally that he was afraid that something might happen to him if I went to America, but his wife, my aunt, confided in me that my uncle was afraid for his job and for his well-being if I went to America.
Senator Russell. What rank did your uncle hold in the MVD? If this man was a colonel, what was your uncle, was he a colonel or a major or what?*
*Mrs. Oswald. My uncle has a degree in forestry, but he is also a colonel in MVD. Every employee has to be in the service, in the military service. He has a degree in forestry, but he is also a colonel in MVD.
Senator Russell. He also has the rank of a colonel in the MVD?*
Mrs. Oswald. No. He is the head of the forestry department in MVD. I don't know what he is doing there.