Maybe that's a bit less known fact, but in Soviet Union citizens couldn't go abroad. The iron curtain had been working two way - not letting stuff and information in and not letting anyone out. In fact the abroad travel had existed still but only for the best of the best comrades. The controlling authorities, like KGB wanted to be hundred percent sure that the lucky visitor of the foreign state would: a) get back and won't ask for a shelter abroad; b) would behave himself really well - won't drink all that capitalistic whiskey all night long with strange people like hookers; c) won't be seduced by foreign secret services and turned into a spy overnight; d) won't buy different banned stuff like porn and jeans and then won't smuggle it back home and sell it to friends; e) and finally they needed those who won't spread stories of admiration of capitalistic style of life upon arrival, but on contrary expected people would tell anyone that life abroad, frankly speaking sucks a lot. Also, the trips abroad were divided into two categories. First category included the socialistic countries with friendly regimes like Eastern Europe or Cuba. It is strange but even those countries were forbidden for a free visit of a "free" Soviet guy, though it was