Soviets Arrest Pentecostal Pastor, 10 Followers

A new crackdown on Pentecostal Christians in the Soviet Far East, including the arrest of their pastor and 10 other members of the community, was reported Monday By Western diplomatic sources.

The events in the village of Chuguevka, not far from Vladivostok, were described by travelers from the area who recently arrived in Moscow.

The religious leader of the community, Viktor Walter, was arrested Dec. 10 on charges of conducting unauthorized worship services, the diplomatic sources said. They added that 80 people protested Dec. 27 outside the prosecutor’s office in the village, and 10 ot them were jailed as well.

As a result, the Pentecostalists were reported to be planning a monthlong hunger strike starting Feb. 1 to support demands for release of those imprisoned.

Members of the fundamentalist sect, mostly of German origin, have applied to Soviet authorities for permission to emigrate to West Germany. Sect leaders say that Soviet law, including a ban on teaching religion to children, interferes with their religious beliefs.

Pentecostal parents have removed their children from school, contending that they were harassed by other pupils. In response, Soviet authorities have imposed fines and threatened to deprive the parents of custody.

Residents of Chuguevka reportedly staged hunger strikes in January, 1984, and September, 1983, to back their bid to emigrate.