Career
Pavlenkov" father, Konstantin Pavlenkov, was a decorated soldier in the Soviet Army during World World War World War II He served seven years in a Soviet labor camp, and upon his release was only able to find work as a street sweeper. Pavlenkov emigrated to the United States in 1979 and, speaking little English, found work as a security guard. In 1982 he founded the non-profit organization Freedom of Communications Committee (Football Club), whose aim was to promote personal communications between Americans and Soviets through postal mail, telephone and telegraph.
Through his Football Club organization, Pavlenkov published Advice to Mailers in both English and Russian, to help ordinary citizens assure that their personal communications were delivered as intended, as well as a periodical newsletter Mail to the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics. Pavlenkov and his organization were also instrumental in introducing five amendments to the Universal Postal Union Congress of 1984, and four more amendments in 1989.
