This letter from the resident of Moscow, Galina Tretyakova, was sent to Josef Bakan, a resident of Czechoslovakia in May, 1957. At that time the city of Moscow was preparing for the World Festival of Youth and Students that was held in the summer of 1957.  The World Youth Festival was the first international event that brought together Soviet citizens and foreigners. Before Stalin’s death in 1953, contacts between Soviets and foreigners were severely limited, and international marriages were legally prohibited.  Khrushchev’s reforms, known as the Thaw, resulted in more freedom for the Soviet citizens.  But even after Stalin’s death in 1953, communication between Soviet citizens and foreigners was closely scrutinized. It remains unknown whether Ms Tretyakova escaped punishment for this communiqué to Mr. Bakan.

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