| Description | Correspondence and lobbying including written questions in the House of Lords and the European Parliament regarding Soviet prisoners of war held in Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War 1979-1989 and Bethell's trip to Afghanistan during November 1989 during which Bethell attempted to persuade both sides to release prisoners.
Correspondence with United States, Swiss and French embassies, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Count Nikolai Tolstoy and the Soviet Prisoners in Afghanistan Rescue Committee, European Parliament, Center for Appeals for Freedom (United States), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 'Newsnight', 'The Times' and 'Islamic Unity of Afghanistan Mujahideen' regarding Bethell's lobbying on behalf of Soviet prisoners of war, in particular his assistance to two soldiers who were subsequently granted refugee status in the United Kingdom in 1984, Igor Fydorovich Rykov and Oleg Khlan.
Letters from Igor Rykov to his former hosts in the UK and translations made by Bethell.
Letters to Bethell from relatives of missing soldiers appealing for assistance in locating family members. |