LETTER TO THE WEST The following is an open letter written in English by Estonian political prisoner, Olev Kiirend, from

forced labor camp 288/27, Krasnojarsk Territory, U.S.S.R. In March 1983, in a secret court session, Mr. Kiirend was sentenced to seven years of hard labor for "attempting to leave the Soviet Union without permission." He and two companions had been caught trying to flee from Estonia in an inflatable raft; however at his trial, a sketch of a "plan" to hijack an airplane (allegedly found in the home of one of his companions) was presented by the procurator. Mr. Kiirend denies these charges as trumped-up. Mr. Kiirend was born on January 21, 1949, into a large family on the Estonian island of Saaremaa. Six of the Kiirend brothers, including Olev, are wrestlers. Olev Kiirend has won many wrestling titles in Estonia and in the U.S.S.R. However, because of his sympathies for Estonian independence, he was never permitted to compete outside the U.S.S.R. At the time of his attempted defection to Sweden, he had been working as a wrestling trainer on Saaremaa. Mr. Kiirend's open letter took nearly two years to reach the West. He gives a clear picture of the wide gulf between Soviet and Western standards of justice. (Mr. Kiirend had succeeded in writing to his family earlier, describing the inhumane conditions at Camp 288/27, where the inmates, mostly political prisoners, are starved and abused. The prisoners were not issued suitable clothing for winter; food was in such short supply that cats and other small animals were caught and eaten.) The following is a faithful rendering of the style and content of Mr. Kiirend's English-language letter. Some syntax errors and a few problems with vocabulary have been corrected for ease of reading. Photocopies of the original handwritten letter are available from the Estonian American National Council. My Open Letter July 4, 1986 I have suffered for roughly four years under inhumane conditions in the Camp of Corrective Labour. Ahead are three harsh years yet. The administration here adheres neither to the laws of the Soviet Union nor to human rights. In this short time I have lost fifteen kilograms of flesh. The camps of corrective labor don't act as re-educators, but use hard labor with torment and ridicule. Having survived all these nightmares, I cannot and don't want to be silent any longer. By this letter I do not strive for better conditions in the camp. Rather I suppose that it may help to tell [the world] of the real circumstances in the Soviet Union. Despite knowing I will be punished by the most severe methods, I would like my letter made public. The press of the Soviet Union won't ever print this kind of letter. Therefore, I have decided to send it to the press of the Free World. Lack of democracy and strict censorship have given a shield to the Soviet court to protect it from public condemnation. This statement gives grounds for the court of Soviets to decree unjust punishments [for me]. One who doesn't give his entire loyalty to the government may just as easily fall behind bars as dissidents in the Soviet Union.

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Since 1970 I repeatedly have tried to get a visa but all in vain. The Soviet authorities won't even explain the reason for refusal. I realize that I have been born in the biggest camp of hard labor in the world. I did not want to stay for a life-long term as a convict in this "camp", which has such a finesounding appellation, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Therefore I decided to flee. Unfortunately, my attempt to reach Sweden - which I had planned thoroughly - failed after twelve hours adrift in the Baltic Sea. The court of Soviet declared me guilty and I was sentenced to be deprived of freedom for seven years in the Camp of Corrective Labor. I was regarded as a felon. But, proceeding from the principles of humanism, my action cannot qualify as a crime. Laws which are not based on human rights must be considered invalid ones. My life was restricted for seven years because I wanted to use my right to be free. This is a crime against me. And I have no feeling of guilt. My conscience is pure. It is regrettable that not only I suffer by my failed undertaking but my intimates as well. In this connection I have a grief. The court, which lasted for eight days, was held in prison. It was a ridiculous farce. The trial and court were held only to give legal basis to the charges against me. They recorded only the evidence which might incriminate me. Such an attitude on the part of the organs of inquiry and court shows that they had a total lack of desire to learn the truth of this matter. They only wanted to find a pretext under which to imprison me. I do not think the Court had very much to say about my punishment. Perhaps the most they have done was to cut one year off of the prison term which has claimed by public procurator for me. The judge, public procurator and barristers were like artists on the stage, who performed the drama according to the scenario written by the State Security Committee. However, they were ashamed to show it openly to the public and that's why the scene was laid in the theatre "Prison" (in Tallinn). I would like to ask the Supreme Court of the Estonian Socialist Republic the following questions: 1) Why, although declared open to the public, was the court session beginning March 22, 1983 regarding Kiirend, Olev and his seven accomplices held in prison? 2) Why was no message sent to my mother about the court session? 3) Why were some witnesses either not summoned nor asked the proper questions? 4) It was interesting that the public prosecutor Kessler was removed immediately before the beginning of his session and replaced by the public prosecutor Kirsipuu. Why? 5) Why did Kirsipuu not read aloud my characterization in the court, although he mentioned that "Kiirend is being characterized as a positive person." This ignores the order of the court, doesn't it? I have a somewhat vague impression of my lawyer's last sentence. It seemed like a prompted one. It sounded approximately as follows: " if the Court finds the accused guilty, then I will agree with the claim of the public prosecutor." Previously all seven lawyers proved that Olev Kiirend had not attempted to seize an airplane in Saaremaa. This is correct. The leader of Soviet Union has started to rearrange the disposal of the State. But will the changes throughout the Soviet system touch upon the corrective labor camps as well, where there are still millions of people suffering? Unfortunately, despite the Soviet leader's wisdom and the eagerness which he has showed in his short time in government, he is powerless to convert the political construction of the State into democracy. For this would mean abandoning the ideas of MarxismLeninism, universal revolution and also terrorism. These are the inseparable ingredients of

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communist states. We can only hope that better times will come. When will they [Soviets] realize what the purpose of life is? When they will give up repression? And when will they aim for a better life for people, instead of ideology. [Someday] nations and people won't be forced to make drastic changes or revolutions with guns or with hard labor. Both devices are inhuman. Consciously to sacrifice somebody's life for progress is barbaric. Moreover, every change isn't progress. The latter is inevitable - if it is necessary - for a society or a nation. And it occurs naturally without any trouble. It's impermissible to deprive somebody of life by bullets or by endless compulsory work. The right to live is the prime human right. One must safeguard it for everyone and everyone for one. Let the struggle for human rights be the first and foremost duty of [all] governments and citizens. This is the most direct method to create a better life all over the Earth. Indeed, where human rights are respected, there peace and security immediately develop. I am not suitable for Soviet Society. The Supreme Court of ESR (Estonian Socialist Republic) corroborated the same by sentencing me to seven years of isolation from society. But I will remain unsuitable after a time of punishment as well. Because I will never fit into Soviet society. Therefore I claim to cast myself out of the Soviet Union. I do not profess the citizenship of the Soviet Union. This was merely conferred upon me by birth. I consider myself a citizen of the Free World. And I cherish a hope that there can be found a country where I can continue my sterling life in the Free World. Kiirend, Olev July 7, 1986

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