Soviet peace campaigner held in mental hospital

The wife of a Soviet peace campaigner said her husband, detained in a mental hospital, had been told his actions were socially dangerous and induced by illness.

Natalya Batovrin said that verdict came after her husband, Sergei, was examined by a medical panel at Moscow's 14th Psychiatric Hospital, where he had been detained since Aug. 6. Mr. Batovrin was one of the leading founders of an unofficial peace group in Moscow that was told by the authorities to cease its activities. She said hospital officials told Batovrin the question of peace is to be decided by the government. No release date has yet been given.