Suspected Nazi on the lamb

  • 2002-08-01
  • Baltic News Service, TALLINN
A native of Estonia accused of participating in the murder of Jews by the Nazis is hiding from U.S. authorities seeking to revoke his U.S. citizenship.

Michael Gorshkow, 78, who was granted U.S. citizenship in 1963, has left his home in Panama City, Florida, and put it up for sale, according to The Associated Press.

Gorshkow is suspected of participating in the mass murder of Jews in Belarus during World War II. The man has missed two deadlines for responding to a civil complaint seeking revocation of his U.S. citizenship.

As of July 26, he had not replied to the Justice Department's allegation that Gorshkow helped kill about 3,000 men, women and children in the Slutsk ghetto while serving as an interpreter and interrogator for the Gestapo during World War II.

The complaint alleges Gorshkow became a U.S. citizen illegally because he failed to disclose his alleged participation in the killings on his immigration papers.

A Justice Department official said the department inteds to take the case before a judge. If it is granted, Gorshkow could appeal.

The final step would be to seek his deportation, but the entire process could take several years.