[andreskytt]

A random dude showing up in a car at the border and just being waved through? Vast majority of the ussr population had not even seen a foreigner up close at that point, there was virtually no tourism and what there was, was focused on big cities. The Moscow Youth Featival, that opened the doors to more than a handful of foreigners, had been only 4 years prior. Given the extent to which KGB meticulously followed each and every foreigner setting foot inside the ussr and carefully catered their experience, there is no way this mission was going to succeed as described and no way the people giving this mission would know otherwise. This does not add up.

[frozenport]

Well, he did get caught immediately (in less than the 28 hours his trip was to cover) for the reasons you outlined.

Perhaps he was intending to get caught?

[infthi]

According to the docs in the article (a picture with his planned route), he had a visa.

[jacquesm]

> Given the extent to which KGB meticulously followed each and every foreigner setting foot inside the ussr

And also into all of the satellite states.