Gleb Sukhanov

Gleb Ivanovich Sukhanov was an MGB officer in Smidovich, the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Soviet Union during World War III. In June, 1951, he investigated newcomer Vasili Yasevich. Yasevich told Sukhanov that he'd hailed from Khabarovsk, a city destroyed by an American atomic bomb a few weeks prior. Yasevich further claimed that he'd been outside Khabarovsk proper, visiting a married woman when the Americans attacked. He also claimed that he'd lost his identification card as a result. While Sukhanov seemed to have his doubts, he was prepared to let Yasevich alone so long as he stayed out of trouble.

During their conversation, Yasevich defended the supposed loss of his ID card by asking how he was to know that the Americans would come that night. Sukhanov responded by asking the first question of Ma Nishtana: "Why is this night different from all other nights?" He then chuckled and concluded he'd been in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast for too long. Yasevich didn't understand the reference.