Free the Russian Hare Krishnas -- Russian Embassy Australia -- Traveling Temple -- Black and White

He said, I was very surprised actually what he said, he said to me that within the constitution of the Soviet Union we feel that the Hare Krishna religion is accepted and can gradually be more accepted because with this policy of glasnost, this policy of openness that's happening now within the Soviet Union, you know, our people are being freed. He said, no more Hare Krishnas. He told me to investigate it if I like, but there's no more Hare Krishnas in jails over there, which I'm going to make a phone call as soon as I finish this. Where are you going to call?

Sweden. We have a contact in Sweden who know all these things. He accepted the Bhagavad Gita. I told him that in Australia we have printed 50,000 copies of this Bhagavad Gita in a Soviet language, and we have distributed them throughout the Soviet Union over the last six months. and he was he was very pleased to get a copy of this Bhagavad Gita so I mean that he aware of it he was aware of the Hare Krishna movement he seemed to have have a bit of information about I think all the press cuttings that he gets from our traveling around has educated them a bit but you know I really believe that there's big changes going on in the Soviet Union the fact that glasnost is accepting Hare Krishna's is the proof of that and it's the fact that I'm in there today I mean two years ago they wouldn't even they didn't want to know a thing about us I went in there today and and met mr.

Bellabrob and and various other Soviet officials and it was a very warm welcome he asked me about Pilate he said oh how's Pilate he was very because you know they kind of Pilate's written him a letter he's written back it was very warm I'm very impressed by the whole thing then two years ago when Pilate rang the doorbell they no we cannot see you people cannot see you people you know and as time goes on you know this little boy Pilate it's like a it's like what's that stuff David and Goliath you know a little boy takes on the Soviet Union and he's winning this is the amazing thing you know okay I mean one other thing I'll say is that it's global image that centenary year the Australians support religious freedom and human rights and colour and culture and dress. These things, we should grow up, our planet should grow up and understand that we can all live together in peace by respecting each other's viewpoint.