Picnic at the Iron Curtain is almost as much Kelly’s as mine. Her insightful comments helped so much in shaping it. My sister, Deborah Viets, was equally skilled in finessing sentences and catching errors, but I owe more to her than this. I have always respected her judgment the most. She gave me the confidence to persevere when she read a chapter and liked it.
My family has helped in so many other ways. My parents always encouraged me to take risks and explore. I am even more grateful for this in retrospect than I was during all those years away from Canada. I realize now they let me go when many other parents might have held their children back. When I did return to Canada for visits, my brother, Mark, met me at the airport. Once I saw his face at the arrivals gate, I felt that I had truly arrived home.
I remember with warmth and love my late mother-in-law, Sakina Mitta, who read and commented on many chapters and was a wonderful, wise companion and a role model for aging. Finally, to my husband, Aamer, thank you for all your help along the way and even more for the happiness that has made life at home so good and writing this book so much fun.
SOURCES
Bennett, Will. “Blood-feud tradition claims innocent life.” Independent, May 2, 1994.
Bowcott, Owen and David Pallister. “Caucasus feud spills into Surrey.” Guardian, May 2, 1994.
Burrell, Ian. “Chechen’s justice hits Willow Way — Killing in Woking.” Sunday Times, May 8, 1994.
Guardian, “‘The idea was to put me as a victim,’ he said before he killed himself — Chechenia murder,” October 22, 1993.
Hanley, Charles J. “On warlords’ wish list: 22 pounds of shoulder-fired lightning.” Associated Press, November 20, 1993.
Hanley, Charles J. “The quest for the Stinger. It’s a ‘nightmare weapon’ if it gets into the hands of drug dealers, terrorists. CIA trying to buy back missiles shipped to Afghanistan guerillas.” Associated Press, February 13, 1994.
MacKinnon, Ian. “Professional hitman blamed for murder.” Independent, May 2, 1994.
Reuters News, “Armenian jailed for life for political killings,” October 21, 1993.
Reuters News, “Court told Armenian KGB ordered Russians’ murder,” October 18, 1993.
Tendler, Stewart. “Suburban murder trail leads back to KGB assassinations.” Times, May 2, 1994.
Thompson, Tony. “Russian gangsters target UK.” Observer, February 11, 2001.
Times, “Prisoner questioned — murder of Karen Reed,” May 4, 1994.
Weale, Sally. “Russian pair ‘executed in penthouse.’” Guardian, October 14, 1993.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan Viets reported for the Guardian, the Independent and BBC World. She has also contributed to CBC, Newsweek, USA Today, the Moscow Times and other publications. She lives with her husband in Toronto.
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 Susan Viets
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 0987966405
ISBN 13: 978-0-9879664-0-7
eBook ISBN: 978-0-9879664-2-1
Cover design: Cai Sepulis
Map graphic: Haley Anderson