"I wanted to choose somewhere public, because I was scared of the KGB"

Mathias Rust was a German pilot who famously flew a small aircraft from Finland to Moscow in 1987. In this quote, Rust is describing his choice to land his plane in Moscow's Red Square, a highly public and symbolic location. Rust's choice to land in a public place was likely motivated by his fear of the KGB, the Soviet Union's secret police. The KGB was known for its brutal techniques and its capability to rapidly and quietly detain individuals. Rust's worry of the KGB was most likely increased by the fact that he was getting in Soviet airspace without permission. By landing in a public location, Rust was wishing to draw attention to his cause and to safeguard himself from the KGB. His plan worked, as he was detained and detained, however not by the KGB. Ultimately, Rust's fear of the KGB was unfounded, however his decision to land in a public place was a sensible one.