Having completed a 5-year sentence in an “intensified” regime camp, the young Russian Orthodox Alexander Soldatov is facing in creasing harassment. He was first arrested at the age of 18 to bring pressure on his father Sergei who was then serving a sentence for his political activities. Soldatov;s arrest came as a result of an incident almost certainly staged by the KGB in which he was charged with assault: “He had been approached by a man who claimed to have news of his father, and invited Alexander to accompany him. Suddenly, Alexander’s companion at- tacked a passer-by, and just as suddenly a carload of militia a p p e are d and arrested Alexander, who had stood rooted to the spot in amazement.”

Upon completion of his sentence, Sergei Soldatov and his wife were expelled to the West. So far Alexander’s applications to emigrate have all been rejected for lack of “written permission from his parents.” None of their letters or packages have reached him.

Meanwhile, Alexander has been refused residence registration without which he can not get a job and thus risks another arrest on charges of “parasitism.” He is now 23 years old and, deeply affected by hs prison experience, he hopes to train for the priest hood.