in ozersk, the off limits city in the ural mountains near the maiak plant, cancer rates rose to extremelyels. but no one was allowed to talk about it. reporter: after the dissolution of the soviet union, koutepova sought compensation for affected families. she also publicized the scandal in the international media. the russian authorities wanted to silence her. she was publicly accused of industrial espionage. the french office of the international league for human rights intervened and helped her leave russia. >> unfortunately, there are several cases in which people like nadejda koutepova have been physically attacked or even murdered for their work for human rights. and that's even more dangerous in a closed city like ozersk, which is far away from moscow and the international media. reporter: but france's welcome was less than warm. koutepova was suddenly one among the increasing numbers of asylum seekers. she, too, had to wait for months to even get an official appointment. >> on some days, three, four, or five thousand people come to our offices. there's no way to manage that. we la