Where's Wallenberg?

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by Mark Slutsky

In December, the Russian government closed the book on the 55-year-old mystery surrounding the fate of Raoul Wallenberg, the daring Swedish diplomat responsible for saving the lives of as many as 100,000 Hungarians, mostly Jews, destined to die in concentration camps in the last days of World War II. Russia's prosecutor general's office issued a statement claiming that Wallenberg and his driver, Vilmos Langfelder--who were picked up by Soviet authorities in Budapest in 1945 and never heard from sinc--were victims of "Soviet persecution," and that they died shortly after.

But Dr. Vera Parnes, founder of the Montreal-based Raoul Wallenberg International Movement for Humanity, believes the statement was nothing more than "a political declaration," and that the truth remains to be told. Parnes believes that Wallenberg may have lived decades longer than officially maintained--and, indeed, that he may still be alive. "It is our duty to do something for a man who risked so much for others," she says.

To that end, the Russian-born oncologist--who maintained an illegal Wallenberg museum in her Moscow apartment until fear of persecution forced her emigration--has organized a conference this weekend featuring speakers from around the world, including Wallenberg's half-brother Guy von Dardel, MP Irwin Cotler, and Sylvain Simard, Quebec's Ministère des relations avec les citoyens et de l'immigration. The conference will pay tribute to Wallenberg and present the latest findings in the ongoing search for the truth. It will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Place de la Cathédrale, 600 Maisonneuve W. Admission is free.