Oswald in Minsk

[Magda Hassan]

There were several reasons people were unable to travel in the former USSR. But most people are unaware of what these may have been as they see all things Soviet through a western propaganda lens. One reason people might be denied travel permission is that they have not yet done their required time in their occupation for which they have been trained. Marina had done her time as a pharmacist and there would be no reason to stop her on this basis alone. Another reason people would not travel to the west is because the west did not accept Soviet Roubles and it was hugely difficult to exchange for foreign currency so most didn't and took holidays in the Eastern Block and Cuba where they didn't have this problem. As Marina was going to be a dependant of Oswald this did not matter in her case. The USSR government could have for some reason forbidden Marina to travel to the US but she was really for all appearances a nobody. She had no special position or responsibilities. At this stage of her life she was a mother and out of the work force. She held no particular skills that could not be done by some one else with similar training. She held no great state secrets. Having Marina move to another country was not going to be a huge loss for the USSR or compromise them in any way and they get rid of the awkward and suspicious Oswald too. But in her leaving she may have been of use to the Soviet authorities in giving information back to them. Wittingly or unwittingly.

Although there is still that intruging Webster connection with her.....