Tour through the Soviet Union
Kaminsky and Bennett arrived in Helsinki, Finland. They rented a car and drove into Russia on July 27, 1960. The pair were visiting the Soviet Union under a $2,000 scholarship from the Northcraft Educational Foundation in Philadelphia. [6] [13] [14]
On August 17, Eugene Power and his son Phillip, met the two men. Eugene's son told him that Kaminsky had told him that the pair were planning to deliver a message to the family of a Russian man who had defected to the United States. He also asked Phillip to contact the State Department should they end up missing. Kaminsky told Phillip that they planned to take photographs of a submarine installation which was in a "restricted area" the following day, August 18, 1960. Eugene later said, "Frankly, I think they ask for their trouble." [15]
Bennett's wife said she last heard from Bennett in a letter dated August 19 that was postmarked Vinnitsa, Russia, the American model town (spy town) in Ukraine. [13] [9]
The pair headed to Uzhgorod, where they planned to drive in to Czechoslovakia. [6]
According to TASS news agency, the two Americans "intentionally deviated from their permitted route near Uzhgorod (near the Soviet Union's Czech-Hungarian frontier) and penetrated a significant distance inside a restricted border area" while on a motor tour of the Soviet countryside". TASS reported that Kaminsky was "carrying maps on which were marked military installations in the western Ukraine" and "Photographic film and a notebook proving he was collecting intelligence data on Soviet territory". [5]
Kaminsky stated the pair were stopped at a check point near the Czechoslovakian border. A KGB guard escorted them to the nearby town of Chop. After interrogation, they were stopped at the Czechoslovakia border again. All of their film was taken and developed. After the film was developed, the men were searched. [6]
The United States State Department reported that another tourist saw Kaminsky on August 25, 1960, "at the Soviet border control point in the Soviet Intourist travel agency hotel at Uzhgorod, at the border of Czechoslovakia". The tourist reported that Kaminsky "was under detention for having taken a photograph." [10]
In September 1960 the two tourists disappeared. The wife of Harvey, Rena Bennett reported them missing. [10]
Trial
After their arrest, Kaminsky and Bennett were given a lawyer who strongly advised them to plead guilty to all charges. [14] The two men admitted they took pictures for a book Kaminsky was writing for the Northcraft Educational Fund. [9]
Kaminsky was charged with espionage under Article II of the Soviet code on crimes against the state. Kaminsky said that "although I knew that I was being tried under article two of the Soviet Law and that carries the death sentence, I was repeatedly assured by the Russians that they would not execute me." The prosecutor even told Kaminsky, "Keep your head up Kaminsky, you're not going to die here". Kaminsky had long discussions with the prosecutor on who would win the United States presidential election. [16]
On September 16, 1960, a military court in Western Ukraine sentenced Kaminsky to seven years in prison. According to TASS, during the trial, Bennett was called as a witness against Kaminsky and "denounced Kaminsky's activities and declared they were incompatible with tourism." [5] Bennett later denied this claim. [11]
Kaminsky appealed the sentence to the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. Because he reported admission of guilt and expression of repentance, the Presidium ruled he should be expelled instead of being sent to jail. [10] Kaminsky was released from jail on October 14. [6]
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