Ilya Wolston
Encyclopedia
Ilya Wolston was an American citizen who enlisted the U.S. Army in World War II
and served as a Russian interpreter.
After the war, Wolston became a language teacher and professor. He was libeled in the book "KGB", where it was stated that he was convicted of espionage; he sued. His case went to he U.S. Supreme Court (Wolston v. Readers Digest) and they declared that Wolston was not a public figure and therefore his assertion of libel would stand. He died before the case could be retried in lower courts. While Wolston was also maligned in a book by Boris Morros. Morros' credibility was seriously in doubt and he never provided any proof for many of his assertions.
There have been other allegations against him that are factually untrue. While related to Russians who were, in fact, spies against the United States, there is no evidence that Wolston was ever complicit in any actions against the U.S., and he remained a loyal citizen until his death. Careful scrutiny of FBI records will show that there was never any malfeasance uncovered regarding Wolston and that the only charge that was ever brought against him was Contempt of Court for not appearing at the trial of later convicted Soviet spy, Jack Sobel. Wolston did not appear due to illness.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and served as a Russian interpreter.
After the war, Wolston became a language teacher and professor. He was libeled in the book "KGB", where it was stated that he was convicted of espionage; he sued. His case went to he U.S. Supreme Court (Wolston v. Readers Digest) and they declared that Wolston was not a public figure and therefore his assertion of libel would stand. He died before the case could be retried in lower courts. While Wolston was also maligned in a book by Boris Morros. Morros' credibility was seriously in doubt and he never provided any proof for many of his assertions.
There have been other allegations against him that are factually untrue. While related to Russians who were, in fact, spies against the United States, there is no evidence that Wolston was ever complicit in any actions against the U.S., and he remained a loyal citizen until his death. Careful scrutiny of FBI records will show that there was never any malfeasance uncovered regarding Wolston and that the only charge that was ever brought against him was Contempt of Court for not appearing at the trial of later convicted Soviet spy, Jack Sobel. Wolston did not appear due to illness.