Soviets Plan Trial for Pilot, Germans Say
Mathias Rust, the teen-age West German pilot who landed a light plane in Red Square last May, will stand trial in a Soviet court, the West German Embassy said Friday.
The exact charges against Rust have not been announced.
“The embassy has been informed that the investigation into Mr. Rust has been completed,” a West German spokeswoman said. “The embassy will be informed about the date and place of the trial at the beginning of next week.”
She said the Soviet authorities had told the embassy that they will supply the 19-year-old Rust with a Soviet defense lawyer.
The embassy has requested permission to observe the proceedings and to make a consular visit to Rust, who is being held in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison, next Tuesday, the spokeswoman said.
Rust flew a Cessna 172 from Helsinki to Moscow on May 28, dodging Soviet air defenses to land near the seat of Soviet power.
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