On December 7, Bergling is sentenced to life imprisonment for aggravated espionage and aggravated unauthorized position with a secret mission, but the story of Stig Bergling does not end with the life sentence. October 6, 1987, during a leave from Norrköping Institution, Bergling escapes together with his wife Elisabeth. The couple manage to get over to Åland, further through Finland and with final destination Moscow.