A chance 1991 meeting in Moscow changed Chechen native Ilias Satouev’s life. When Satouev saw a young Colorado tourist, Don Kaufman, being cheated by a Moscow street vendor, he intervened. They chatted for a few hours. Before parting, Kaufman issued a generic invitation that neither man knew would be a lifeline for Satouev five years later. Claire Martin, The Denver Post
Q: How did you meet Don Kaufman?
A: I went to Moscow to deliver something to my cousin and stayed with him close to a famous street, a tourist road, close to Red Square. I saw a young man in shorts, trying to buy souvenirs, and the seller was very rude to him. I stood by there, saying, “How you are treating that man is not very polite.” I knew a few words in English — American basketball, Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls. So I talked to that man and we walked down the street a little. Then he had to leave, and as he was leaving, he gave me a coin — a Kennedy half-dollar. I know who was Kennedy, and admired a lot his policies and how he handled the situation in October 1962. And this young man gave me his business card. He said, “If you’re any time in the U.S., please visit.” So I kept it.
Q: Then what happened?
A: We had this war situation (in Chechnya), and everything changed. My intention was to come to the U.S. for six months, to obtain visa, and get a room in New York, somewhere in the Russian-speaking community. I had planned out enough money to stay for six months.
Q: But things didn’t work out that way?
A: When the customs at the New York airport asked me what is my intention, I didn’t know what she was talking about. I had an invitation, which I got in Russia from a Russian firm, for a business symposium’s educational program. Then she got an interpreter, but he was from India or Pakistan, and his Russian was difficult to understand. And then my struggle started.
Q: Started?
A: I was exhausted. Really tired. I wanted to get out of the airport but couldn’t find the right exit. I didn’t know how to take the bus. I knew the taxi would be too expensive. I spent a lot of hours there, looking at all groups of people. I saw Arabs. I saw Jews. It was so new for me. Finally I decided to go to Glenwood Springs to try to find this guy who was so kind.
Q: What did you think he would do?
A: I thought if I am going to be in a problem, he might help me.
Q: How did you get from New York City to Glenwood Springs?
A: Well, I knew I had to buy a ticket and fly there. I had a big dictionary. I wrote for hours. I looked at the dictionary and made a sentence. Then I went to police and said, “Please help me. I need Glenwood Springs.”
Q: What happened then?
A: I took a flight to Denver, because I thought Glenwood Springs was convenient from Denver. I saw a big fight on Colfax Avenue. And then finally I got to Glenwood Springs.
Q: Did that man remember you?
A: Yes. He is an important lawyer. He helped me. We are still friends today.
