HL Deb 14 February 1991 vol 526 c13WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What information they have about restrictions in Russia placed on the Interfax news agency and on Radio Russia; and concerning the recent murders in and near Moscow of the following Orthodox priests: Aleksandr Men, Lazar Solnyshko and Serafim Shlykov.

The Earl of Caithness

We understand that the Interfax news agency, recently denied facilities by the USSR State Broadcasting Committee, is now operating under the auspices of the RSFSR republican government. Radio Russia's main broadcasting facilities were withdrawn by the USSR State Broadcasting Committee; Radio Russia is now broadcasting for short periods only on a less accessible channel.

We have no information on the murders of Aleksandr Men (on 9th September 1990), Lazar Solnyshko (on 26th December 1990) and Serafim Shlykov (found dead on 4th February 1991) to add to reports in the press. We trust that these murders will be thoroughly investigated by the Soviet authorities and those responsible brought to justice.