Helms Issues Subpoena for Soviet Seaman

Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), given little encouragement by Senate leaders, issued a subpoena today that could pry seaman Miroslav Medvid off a Soviet grain ship in the Mississippi River.

George Dunlop, a staffer on Helms’ Agriculture Committee, said Helms signed the subpoena at 2 p.m. EST and sent the committee’s deputy counsel to New Orleans to attempt to serve the papers.

“The subpoena was signed by me at 2 p.m. on behalf of the Agriculture Committee,” Helms told a reporter. “The process servers are in the air on the way to New Orleans.”

The Helm’s subpoena appeared to be the last chance for Americans to ask the young Ukrainian sailor whether he wants political asylum before the freighter Marshal Konev steams out of U.S. waters.

At the White House, President Reagan said he has asked Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III to “look into” the case of Medvid--who twice jumped ship in apparent efforts to defect but was returned to the vessel by U.S. officials--”to see if it warrants further action.”

But presidential spokesman Larry Speakes repeated, “We consider the case closed.”

Leaders Reluctant

Helms, chairman of the Agriculture Committee, had made a bid to get the full Senate to subpoena the Ukrainian sailor, but reluctance among Senate leaders to follow that course apparently prompted him to issue the legal demand for Medvid’s appearance on the committee’s authority alone.

A Justice Department spokesman said no agency from his department, such as the Immigration and Naturalization Service or the Border Patrol, will be involved unless the subpoena is refused.

The 22-year-old Medvid was aboard the Konev early today as protesters demanding that he be given asylum circled the freighter, urging the entire crew to defect. Soviets, gathered on deck, laughed and shouted for beer, pizza and cigarettes.