MPs step up campaign to aid religious refugees in Moscow

Church urged to help the Siberian 7
by Jonathan Petre
THE CHURCH has been asked to help free the Siberian Seven Christians who have been trapped in the basement of the American Embassy in Moscow for the past three years.
The organisers of the campaign to free the Seven, who recently began their fourth year of confinement, have asked Churches in Britain and Ireland to sign a joint declaration inviting the group to come to Britain, if and when they are granted visas by the Soviet government.
Buzz magazine, an evangelical journal which is co-ordinating these efforts. has sent a letter to Cardinal Hume and is also attempting to arrange an audience with the Pope in the near future.
The Seven, who wish to leave the Soviet Union to escape religious persecution, were trapped in the Embassy after rushing security guards and gaining the security of diplomatic territory. Since then they have lived in appallingly cramped conditions and have only been allowed 30 minutes exercise a day.
Catholic MP David Atkinson, who met the Seven personally in 1979, told the Herald that he was convinced of their resolve to remain in the building. But the
critical point will come next year when the whole American Embassy is planning to move to new premises 200 yards down the street. This will leave the Seven vulnerable to arrest by the KGB who have been maintaining a constant watch on the basement.
It is unclear whether the Americans could protect the Seven from arrest and possible prison sentences, but My Atkinson, the Conservative MP for Bournemouth, believes that -the situation will be resolved before then, perhaps by a deal that [nvolves swapping the Seven for Russians held in the USA.
Mr Atkinson criticised both the Churches and the • governments involved for not doing enough to solve the problem. The early day motion, sponsored by David Alton MP, which will attempt to get the problem discussed in the context of the Helsinki conference on human rights, is a step in the right direction, but Mr Atkinson said that he did not think -the Churches do enough in the West to help their Christian brothers: The Committee to Free the Siberian Seven is planning to stage a birthday party in October for one of the group. Peter Vashchenkos, in order to gain support for their cause. The party will be held in Fleet Street and the Russian Ambassador will be invited to share the cake.