HC Deb 03 July 1978 vol 953 cc83-4W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Soviet Government in protest of the manner in which the trials of Ida Nudel, Vladimir Slepak, and approximately 20 members of the Helsinki Human Rights Monitoring Group already arrested have been conducted, and protest at the decision to exile Mr. Slepak and Miss Nudel to a remote part of the USSR.

Mr. Luard

As my right hon. Friend has repeatedly made clear both to the Soviet Government and in the House, the Government deplore the sentences passed on members of the Helsinki monitoring groups. We are deeply concerned about the need for respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. But there has to be a careful judgment in each case of the effects of governmental representations both on the cases themselves and on our wider relationships. No specific representations have been made to the Soviet Government since the trials of Ida Nudel and Vladimir Slepak.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if observers from the British Embassy in Moscow tried to gain admittance to the trials of Ida Nudel and Vladimir Slepak.

Mr. Luard

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner) on 28th June.—[Vol. 952, c.614–15.]

Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of his reply to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West dated 14th June 1978, in which he stated that, in view of the public interest in the cases of Alexander Ginsberg and Anatoli Sharansky, Vladimir Slepak, Marsha Slepak and Ida Nudel, he made arrangements for representatives of the British Embassy in Moscow to attend the trials of Vladimir Slepak and Ida Nudel, which were held on 21st June; and, if not, why not.

Mr. Luard

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply which I gave him on 28th June.—Vol. 952, c.614–15.]

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the policy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to try to gain admittance to trials of Soviet dissidents.

Mr. Luard

A representative of the British Embassy in Moscow will seek to attend where there is widespread public interest in the trial of a Soviet citizen which appears to relate to the provisions of the CSCE Final Act, and where foreign observers are admitted. My right hon. Friend sees no advantage in trying to gain admittance to the courtroom once it has been made clear in advance that this will not be permitted.