'Helsinki' rights activist faces trial in Moscow

August 28, 1981

Ivan Kovalyov, one of the last active members of the dissident "Helsinki" group on human rights, has been arrested in Moscow and is expected to go on trial, dissident sources report.

Mr. Kovalyov is charged with anti-Soviet agitation, which carries a maximum sentence of 7 years in labor camp and 5 of internal exile, the sources said. His father and wife are already serving labor-camp and exile sentences for their convictions on similar charges.

The "Helsinki" group was set up to monitor Soviet compliance with international pledges on human rights.