Mad Russian Update! 8/11/2005

According to friend, Mikhailina Karina, all 67 seniors that live at the center where Vladimir Noskov worked signed a petition telling of his good works. It was provided to his attorneys.

According to former cameraman for World Wide Magazine, Mike Perez, "Vladimir contacted his sister, Ms. Faina Schwartz, about his Tuesday 9 August court hearing. He reported that his attorney requested a second bond hearing and that the judge set a 6 September date for same. Vladimir also stated that he likes his atty and is 'feeling better overall'."

Below is a little something that Mikhailina Karina, a friend of Vladimir's wrote:

Vladimir Noskov’s life is starting to sound like one of his beloved Bob Marley songs. Only he didn’t shoot the sheriff. All he did was share a joint with an undercover deputy 21 years ago at a concert in San Francisco. A public defender put in a guilty plea for Vladimir for "possession with intent to sell," although Vladimir simply gave the officer his last 7 grams of pot and no further transaction took place. He completed his one-year probation and thought the charge was expunged from his record.

Mad Russian UPDATE 8/16/2005

the following was distributed by Mike Perez, former World Wide Magazine cameraman

Strongly consider writing letters of appeal to media and legislators and to your local American Civil Liberties Union office.

Website: http://www.aclu-em.org/
Contact info: American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri, 4557 Laclede Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63108. Complaints: 314-361-2111. Fax: 314-361-3135.

Please contribute to Vladimir's defense fund (Send mail to Ms. Mira Tanna, 2854 Arsenal Street, St. Louis, MO  63118).

FYI, today's news is not good.

His no-bail detention is metastacizing into an ugly punishment that is totally out of proportion to his offense.

Today, his sister has related some frankly troubling news:

- Vladimir is deeply concerned about severe and potentially dangerous jail conditions at his present location (Send pep talks, books to read, money for food items, etc. to: Vladimir Noskov, DHS Custody, Lincoln County Jail, 65 Business Parkway Drive, Troy, MO 63379).

- There is reason to believe that his personal security is under direct and ongoing physical threat.

- The Mad Russian is not housed with other INS detainees. He is housed with regular felons. They threaten him and deliberately try to instigate violent confrontations. He feels he cannot count on facility guards to intervene.

- He claims that he has been tormented by other inmates, more than once and including physical punishment.

- Other detainees are fed low-grade meat products but at least they can eat them without inevitable physical discomfort. Vladimir is a vegetarian and has been receiving only pieces of cheese.

- The facility, like many such facilities, is way-overcrowded. Day and night after day and night, Vladimir tries to catch any rest that he can -- on floors, an near-impossible situation.

- As you may know, he is a heavy smoker -- not a good habit, some might criticize. But, what is more real than any criticism is that he has an addiction that requires treatment, as most educated folks would agree. This lack of required medical treatment has morphed into more unfair punishment for our friend. Such punishment generates dense stress in an already-troubled atmosphere.

- Ironically, you can likely pick up your daily newspaper, look at the crime beat, and read account after account of this and that person allowed to post bail for a wide range of very serious crimes. Meanwhile, Vladimir has not been granted ANY bail terms for a minor offense committed over 20 years ago (and for which he has completed a court-mandated period of probation)! What's up with THAT?

Can you help?

Note: If you take up the pen in this thing, for what it's worth, Vladimir is seeking transfer to the Mississippi County jail (where he was initially housed) or to the Montgomery detention facility.

Thank you for your consideration.

Mike Perez
Bettendorf, Iowa

Mad Russian Free...For Now (UPDATE 8/24/2005)

Vladimir was released on bail on Tuesday.  The Post-Dispatch article from today's Metro section is to the right.  I blogged about this today as well at DiabetoBlog. 

Mike Perez states that Faina Schwartz, Vladimir's sister, "sends her warmest thanks for all expressed support and even for any wishful thinking that took place."  Apparently Vladimir will make some kind of statement very soon as well.

Hopefully some of Vlad's acquaintances, such as Howard Stern and Stuttering John Melendez, who is now the announcer of The Tonight Show, step up to help him.  That is not to say that he has no hope, but every little bit helps, and if you know people in high places that can get you some exposure, it can only help.

Since 9/11, I cannot say I trust the government's dealings with immigrants or foreigners.  Why should someone be deported for 1) something that happened 20 years ago, and 2) something as insignificant as pot?!  Does that make him a threat?  I think not.  Shouldn't they have better cases to go after?  Who am I kidding?!  I am sure this is all being done for my freedom and liberty, so I should shut up.

As Yakov Smirnoff, another famous Russian (who performs in Branson, by the way), loves to say, "America, what a country!"

'Mad Russian' gets his day in court at deportation hearing

By Todd C. Frankel

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 06/27/2006

UNIVERSITY CITY

The "Mad Russian" wore a suit and tie.

It was, for him, an outfit nearly as surreal as the situation that required it.

Vladimir Noskov was heading to court on Tuesday. In a couple of hours, he was scheduled to learn if he'd be deported to Ukraine, a country he hadn't seen in almost 30 years, a place his family had fled as persecuted Jews.

Noskov, who has used the nickname "Mad Russian" for years while garnering attention for his radio-show antics, stepped out of his apartment into the morning sun. He buttoned his dark gray suit jacket against the unusual June chill. The man who admits he made a youthful mistake in never seeking full U.S. citizenship now wore a U.S. flag pin on his lapel. He carried a small bag for his digital camera and a single anti-anxiety pill. He'd already popped Imodium AD to quell his roiling stomach. He'd slept little the night before, despite a last-minute legal break that seemed to boost his case.

"I just want this to be over with," said Noskov, 44, a familiar fixture in University City's Delmar Loop.

Nothing would be decided this day. But the risk of deportation would appear slim by day's end, and Noskov could claim a partial victory.

Federal authorities consider Noskov a "criminal alien" and want him gone because more than two decades ago he pleaded guilty to a marijuana-related charge. That became a deportable offense after the immigration laws were beefed up in 1997. Noskov had no idea he was a wanted man.

Then, last August, a drunken Noskov was arrested for creating a scene outside of the Blueberry Hill restaurant, a few steps from his home. His name was entered into a computer. His long slide toward Tuesday's hearing began.

Before going to court, Noskov, an unrepentant smoker, needed a new lighter. He walked a couple of blocks to a smoke shop. He was greeted by a clerk who had been following his case.

"Congratulations, sir," Tom Lieberman said, surprised to see his regular customer in a suit.

"It's not over yet," Noskov replied.

"It's a done deal, from what I heard," Lieberman said.

Noskov winced. "Oh, don't say that," he said, rapping his knuckles against a wood counter. "Bad luck. But I have good chances."

Noskov walked across the street to Brandt's restaurant to wait for Tom Ray, owner of Vintage Vinyl. Ray was going to serve as a character witness and give him a ride to the courthouse. He ordered espresso and orange juice.

The tiny white espresso cup reminded Noskov of the time his family spent in Italy waiting for American visas. When he was just 14, Noskov, along with his mother and sister, had escaped the Soviet Union, He hosted a reggae show on KDHX. He frequently appeared on the now-defunct public-access TV show World Wide Magazine. Noskov specialized in peppering the rich and powerful with obnoxious questions. He made appearances on Howard Stern's radio show.

To some, he was the embodiment of the American right to be raucous and rude. Others disdained what he did. But his life now consists of mostly working the front desk at a senior living home and serving as a Russian translator.

Despite living here for so long, Noskov never became a citizen. That would've allowed him to escape his current predicament. His mother and his sister, who is a Boston University genetics professor, became U.S. citizens in the early 1980s. But he was enamored with the romantic ideal of being a man without a country. That came back to haunt him.

In 1984, Noskov was 22 and working in San Francisco when he was busted for giving some marijuana to an undercover police officer. He pleaded guilty of felony possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. It wasn't considered a serious matter. He was fined and sentenced to one year of probation.

But then Congress toughened U.S. immigration laws, affecting past crimes.

After being tracked down in August by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, Noskov was given a trial date: June 27.

Noskov needed to wipe the California conviction off his record. He hired a West Coast attorney. And on Monday, less than 24 hours before his trial date, a deal was struck. The drug conviction was amended to a less serious charge that would not trigger deportation.

It was a major win for Noskov. But the immigration judge could still choose to ignore it.

Noskov rode with Ray to the Robert A. Young Federal Building in downtown St. Louis. They walked into the immigration agency's waiting room. Others were there to learn their fate, too.

Noskov's attorney in St. Louis, Barbara Bleisch, arrived and filed a motion noting the change in the California conviction. Bleisch was called to talk about the case with the judge and the agency's attorney.

She returned 15 minutes later with the news: The trial was canceled because of the last-minute motion.

The agency asked for 10 days to review the motion. The judge said he'd set a new court date for Aug. 29. But he left the door open to both sides agreeing to dismiss the case.

Bleisch said this was a good sign. She hopes the immigration agency won't pursue Noskov's case.

"I'm sad because I expected to be declared free today," Noskov said, tearing up a little. He wiped sweat from his forehead.

"I'm sorry," Bleisch said.

They left the courthouse together. And Noskov returned to his apartment, where he put his suit back in the closet - not sure when he'd need it again.