Soviets Refuse Pardon to German Pilot Who Landed His Plane in Red Square

The Soviet Union has denied a request for a pardon by Mathias Rust, the 19-year-old West German who landed his light plane in Red Square last May, a Soviet official said Tuesday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Yuri A. Gremitsky made the statement in response to rumors circulating in the West German media that Rust would be pardoned before Christmas from his four-year prison sentence.

“His request was reviewed. The answer was negative,” Gremitsky said.

He said that Rust’s request was denied because Soviet law permits pardons only after half of the prisoner’s sentence has been served, or if mitigating circumstances have arisen. In Rust’s case, Gremitsky said, neither applies.

Rust said at his trial that he took off from Helsinki, Finland, and headed for Moscow on a “mission of peace,” But Kremlin officials were furious that he was able to fly undeterred across 500 miles of Soviet air space, circle Moscow and land on the cobblestones of Red Square next to the seat of Soviet power.

As a consequence of Rust’s flight, both the Soviet defense minister and the general in charge of air defense were dismissed.

Asked whether Rust had been transferred to a labor camp or was still in Moscow’s Lefortovo Prison, Gremitsky replied that the transfer had been delayed.

“As far as where he is held is concerned, I don’t think this is very important,” Gremitsky said. “The time of his sentence is passing.”

He said Rust was in good health.