Visit To Prisoner Of Soviet Union

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31981, 7 May 1969, Page 17

Visit To Prisoner Of Soviet Union

fN.Z.P.A.-Retrter— Copyright) MOSCOW, May 5. The British Embassy in Moscow was today allowed its first visit in nearly a year to the British lecturer, Gerald Brooke, now serving the last year of a five-year labour eamp sentence for anti-Soviet activities. But Embassy officials, at a press briefing soon after the 50-minute meeting, declined to say whether it was in any way connected with rumours of new charges being brought against Brooke.

It was reliibly understood, however, that the British authorities have for some time been trying to avert the bringing of further Soviet charges against Mr Brooke, and that they are continuing their efforts.

The flurry over Brooke began when a Soviet correspondent working for a London newspaper reported that Brooke might be facing a new trial for alleged anti-Soviet activities in Potma labour camp, south of Moscow where he is serving his sentence. As long ago as December, 1967, ' » Soviet Government newspaper “Izvestia” broadly hinted that the Russians might retry Brooke on espionage charges, which carry a total gaol period of up to 15 years. Mr Brooke, now aged 30, was last visited by a British consul last June 20, and the British Embassy has been pressing for a ew visit since soon after that

An Embassy spokesman said the Russian Foreign Ministry had informed them several days ago that a visit would be atloweu today, and that they assumed Brooke had been brought the 200 miles f*om Potma to Moscow- several days ago also. He was seen for 50 minutes by the consul, Mr Leslie Stur-

fi.ey, in a building which the latter said looked like an interrogation centre not far from the city centre. Mr Sturmey said Brooke looked thin.- but otherwise reasonably fit and healthy. Brooke had complained of still suffering from collitis, a chronic s’omach complaint for which he received hospital treatment late in 1967.

“Brooke sale, the camp diet contained very little to help his complaint, though be has been gett ig a bottle of kaffir ('ermented milk) a day, and he found this quite useful,” Mr Sturmey said. The lecturer, who is on a strict regime at the labour camp, “had no complaints at all about his treatment,” Mr Sturmey said.