Talk politics.

Greetings,

 
I would like to give you an outline of the story that has been unfolding on the territory stretching from Vladivostok, Russia to Washington, DC for 11 years now.

On October 27^th, 1998 in the City of Vladivostok, Mr. Douglas Kent, Consul General of the United States in Vladivostok, was driving under the influence and caused an auto accident as a result of which I, at that time a 23-year old young man, suffered spine damage which left me disabled and wheelchair-bound for life.

The investigation has proven the guilt of Mr. Kent but his diplomatic immunity made it impossible to bring him to justice.

In 2000, I filed a civil suit in Philadelphia Court. The hearings stretched over the period of 6 years and were held in Philadelphia, PA; Alexandria, VA; San Diego, CA. When the case was referred to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Judge delivered an outrageous judgment on August 10, 2006. The ruling states that Mr. Kent was acting within the scope of his employment when he caused an automobile accident while driving home from gym. The ruling effectively bars me from suing in U.S. courts because federal employees are immune from liability for torts committed within the scope of their employment and the government is immune from suit for tort committed by its employees abroad. This ruling leaves me without recourse against the man who ruined my life. I have not received a single cent for the loss of my health and I am now left with no option for necessary treatment or a decent life.

In March of 2008, having given up on the opportunity to achieve justice and in protest to the treatment I had received from the United States government, I took the only action I felt was left within my power and began a hunger strike. It lasted for 20 days and resulted only in further health deterioration. During the hunger strike, the US Department of State offered me $100,000 in compensation – an amount which not only seemed ridiculous to me but also humiliated me immensely since it would not cover even two years of medical treatment for a quadriplegic in Russia.

After that hunger strike, in the course of 2008-2009, 11 protest rallies were held in 4 cities in Russia (Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg, and Moscow) – those where there is a U.S. diplomatic mission. A committee in my support was established. This committee is the one that initiates such rallies.

 
On March 6^th, 2009 in Geneva and on March 31^st, 2009 in Hague, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Lavrov discussed the case with the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

On June 3rd, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Mr. Margelov forwarded a letter to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs Mr. J. Kerry and to Senator Nelson. On June 29^th, 2009 in Moscow, a joint meeting of the Committees on Foreign Affairs of the State Duma and the Congress was held where my case was presented. At the State Duma, I also met with Congressmen Berman and Rohrabacher who pledged their support.

 
Despite all the numerous protests, support from politicians, and constant media coverage the case does not get off the ground. The Department of State still sticks to its cynical and inhuman attitude and has no intention to grant me a fair compensation. I am left in absolute stagnation, wheelchair-bound for life.

In my opinion, this case is hurting the relations between the two countries – the United States and Russia – as well as adversely affects the attitude of Russian citizens towards the USA.

For quite some time now, the case is no longer viewed in Russia as a “private matter of Mr. Kashin” but rather as a spectacular example, a litmus test reflecting double standards and the violation of human rights by the U.S. Department of States. A resolution in my matter would serve as a good signal for the "re-set" of Russian-American relations recently proposed by President Obama.

I do hope that you will respond to my letter. I strongly believe that this story should be known to the American people. In my opinion, it is the only way to make the U.S. Department of State meet its obligations to me.

Sincerely,

Alexander Kashin