Russian poet

Press, 23 February 1989, Page 12

Russian poet

Sir, —Irina Ratushinskaya writes poetry — about freedom, human dignity, and simple things, like longing for a red velvet dress. The Kremlin authorities and Soviet K.G.B. — guardians of a totalitarian society — regard Irina as a "specially dangerous State criminal.” Since leaving the U.S.S.R. she has been stripped of her citizenship and is now travelling with her husband, Igor Gerashchenko, on British papers. As one of those who prayed for her freedom on the fourth anniversary of her captivity (September 17, 1986), I was distressed to learn that of all the 15 countries she has visited only New Zealand. authorities needed to Mos-"« cow before granting visas. Why @ did the Crown defer to the Kremlin?—Yours, etc., . . SUE HUNT. .January 19, 1989. .

[The Ministry of Immigration, Mr Rodger, replies: "Your correspondent states that Mr and Mrs Ratushinskaya travel on British papers. I can advise that British citizens travelling on British passports do not require visas to visit New Zealand. Any holder of a British passport would be advised of this if they made inquiry of a New Zealand diplomatic post. The New Zealand High Commission in London has stated categorically that no application from a British national has been referred by that office to Moscow. That office can envisage no circumstances that would require such referral of British nationals. I am informed further that the New Zealand High Commission in London has not received any application from Mr and Mrs Ratushinskaya. It appears your correspondent may have been misinformed of the facts in this matter.”]