Vilis HāznersJudicial review and denial of motion to appeal

A10 305 336

and any war crime allegations (Tr. p. 10571). Since his arrival in the United States, he has worked for the Committee for a Free Latvia. His work consisted of political research and publication of articles on Soviet Latvia (Tr. p. 10542). The respondent's contention has been that because of his anti-Communist activities he was unfairly portrayed by the Soviets as a war criminal.

THE RESPONDENT'S WITNESSES

One of the respondent's witnesses was Peter Vilips who was deposed at his home in Maywood, Illinois on April 6, 1978. Mr. Vilips testified that he had known the respondent since 1929 when they were both scouts and later in the Latvian army (d. p. 23). They also met at the Latvian Society. He said that he was in Bolderaja, Latvia, on July 1, 1941 when he was called upon to organize the area's defense (d. p. 34). He claims that the respondent was at that time on the other side of the Daugava River at Mangalsala, in charge of another defense group. He also stated that the respondent's group stayed at Mangalsala for a couple days and then moved to Ziemelblazma. Although he did not personally see the respondent, he was in contact with him by telephone during those days (d. p. 35). Later, on July 7, 1941, he met him personally at the Latvian Society in Riga where all the Latvian Army people would meet (d. p. 46). He said that soon afterwards the respondent went to work for the security staff on Annas Street where he worked until October of 1942 (d. p. 47). The respondent was assistant to the director there, his duties included announcing visitors and taking care of the paper work. He saw the respondent there many times always wearing the Latvian army uniform (d. p. 88). He saw the respondent again when the respondent was part of the Latvian Legion perhaps in 1944 although he was not sure of the year (d. p. 4-59). He also testified that the respondent's reputation for truth and veracity was very good. The witness's testimony parallels the respondent's testimony regarding his military activities outside of Riga in the first days of July 1941.

The respondent then introduced two witnesses who testified regarding his arrest on June 1941. The first witness was Elvira Meija, who came to the United States In 1949 and presently resides at Lansing, Michigan. Mrs. Meija testified that she was a bookkeeper at the trade school's administration on Kalku Street in Riga where she met the respondent who also worked there (Tr. p. 117310). At the end of June, 1941, she saw the respondent being arrested by the N.K.V.D., at his office (Tr. p. 117311). The other witness was Olga Skujins, who lives in New Jersey and testified

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