Russian Orthodox activist re-sentenced (12/30/84)

Russian Orthodox activist re-sentenced

MUNICH - Vladimir Poresh, believed to be the first Soviet political prisoner charged under a new law that allows authorities to extend the terms of inmates who allegedly disobey labor camp rules, was recently sentenced to an additional three-year sentence.

Mr. Poresh, a 34-year-old Russian Orthodox activist, was scheduled to complete a five-year labor camp term in September and begin serving three years in internal exile. Instead, he was moved from labor camp No. 35 near Perm to Chistopol Prison and charged under Article 188-3 of the Russian SFSR Criminal Code.

The measure, which was incorporated into the code in October 1983, gives camp authorities what amounts to arbitrary power to extend the terms of prisoners deemed troublesome, a practice that was common under Stalin.

Dissident sources have reported that the law appears tailored to discourage dissidents from carrying on their activities in penal institutions.

Mr. Poresh was arrested in September 1979 and charged with "anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda" for helping to publish an underground religious journal called Obshchina (Community).

Under provisions of Article 188-3, Mr. Poresh could have been sentenced to an additional five years. The measure was adopted to punish "dangerous recidivists," those who have shown "malicious disobedience" of camp regulations, or those who have been previously punished for rule infractions. The law would appear to apply to prisoners participating in strikes, signing appeals or taking part in other political actions.

Mr. Poresh, a native of Leningrad, is a historian and philologist. It is not known what prompted authorities to charge him under the new statute.