§ Principles
§ The imposition of martial law and suspension of civil rights in Poland (notably the policy of large-scale 84WA internment and detention) contravenes the principle of "respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms". The consistent pressure by the Soviet Union on the Polish authorities to counter the process of reform and renewal, and particularly the formation of an independent trades union organisation, was a clear violation of the principles of respect for the sovereignty of independent states and of non-interference in the internal affairs of states. The Soviet Union continues to try to subjugate Afghanistan by force in breach of most, if not all, of the principles of the Final Act. There has been no sign of a Soviet willingness to withdraw from that country.
§ The repression of dissidents in Czechoslovakia and in the Soviet Union has continued. In the Soviet Union there were further arrests of members of the Helsinki Monitoring Groups. The Soviet authorities have continued to repress religious activists, non-Russian minorities including Jews, and others. There has been a further marked drop in the numbers of Jews, Armenians and ethnic Germans permitted to emigrate.
§ Confidence-Building Measures
§ Exercise Zapad 81 took place in the western part of the Soviet Union from 4th to 12th September. Notification of this exercise was only in the most general terms. It did not contain the detail specified in the Final Act for prior notification of major military manoeuvres (that is, manoeuvres involving 25,000 or more troops) although Soviet press reports suggested that approximately 100,000 troops were involved. Nor were observers invited. No further elucidation has been provided in response to western requests. No other major military exercises in Eastern Europe were notified.