Dissidents to Ask Soviet OK for Magazine

A group of newly released political prisoners, heeding the Kremlin leadership’s exhortations for Soviets to speak out, is seeking official permission to publish a news and opinion magazine called Glasnost to supplement state-controlled media.

The title, meaning “openness,” is the slogan used by Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev for his campaign to promote freedom of speech and criticism.

“In contrast to our past activities, we are not seeking confrontation with the authorities,” said Sergei Grigoryants, 45, chief editor and organizer. He was released from prison in February after serving 3 1/2 years for editing the underground human rights publication, Bulletin V.

“We are trying to fill gaps in what is already available, supplying information on areas that are not covered or only partially covered,” he said. Among the topics he listed are human rights, Jewish affairs and ecology.

“We want to go through all the legal channels. We don’t want to do anything secretly or underground,” he said, but he added: “If we don’t get official approval, we will print it anyway. It will be more difficult, but we will do it.”

The editors have asked to present a pilot edition next week to Alexander N. Yakovlev, who is an aide to Gorbachev and a non-voting member of the ruling Politburo.