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Edmond Pope was just trying to help Russia. A former Penn State University researcher turned businessman, Pope was working with Russian institutes to help the country market new, underwater-propulsion technology overseas.

A successful marketing effort would potentially mean a windfall of revenue for a Russian economy so beleaguered that a frightening large number of the country’s workers have not received their paychecks in months. Yet after some thirty-plus visits to Russia, Pope was suddenly arrested on April 3rd by the Russian Federal Security Agency -- the successor to the KGB -- on charges of espionage.

Since his arrest nearly three months ago, Pope has remained in a maximum security in prison in Moscow as Russian authorities continue their "investigation." Yet Pope has not even been informed of the charges against him. Indeed, Pope has a written, formal contract with various Russian institutes he was working with on these technologies. And the hardware that he was working with is a rocket-propelled torpedo more than thirty years old -- a weapon Russia sells commercially at arms bazaars throughout the world.

To make matters worse, when his wife of three decades attempted to visit him early in his incarceration, her visa was promptly revoked by the Russian government. On May 2nd, Pope’s wife Cheryl spent their 30th wedding anniversary alone, fearing for her husband’s safety and health. Even now, Cheryl has no reason to believe that her husband, who suffers from a rare form of bone cancer that is currently in remission, has been receiving proper medication or has even seen a doctor.

Edmond Pope is no spy. Instead, I think his arrest is an attempt by the political leadership and intelligence community in Russia to portray itself as tough on the West and tough on espionage. There also remains the possibility that the Russian government may be trying to interrogate Edmond Pope -- who once served as a U.S. Naval Intelligence Officer -- about what he knows about America’s national security.

Perhaps most frustrating has been the lack of support we have received from the U.S. State Department and the Clinton-Gore Administration. The president just returned from a major summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and did not even raise this issue. Yet within hours of the arrest of Russian media mogul Vladimir Gusinsky -- a frequent critic of Putin -- President Clinton stated the United States would take a "very firm position" on Gusinsky’s arrest.

But where is the concern about Edmond Pope? Is the arrest and imprisonment of a Russian media magnate a greater concern to the President than the improper arrest of an American citizen?

The State Department -- who’s highest priority should be the protection of American citizens travelling overseas -- has been similarly unresponsive. Only after repeated pressure by myself, Congressman John Peterson (R-PA), and Cheryl Pope did the State Department even comment on the case. "I can’t characterize it other than to say this is an issue that we are concerned about and we’re going to raise it as appropriate with Russian authorities," a State Department spokesman stated weakly. "I don’t know exactly when we’re going to raise it."

Fed up with the bureaucratic foot-dragging, I raised the issue of Edmond Pope’s release repeatedly this month when I accompanied Secretary of Defense William Cohen for meetings with Russian government officials in Moscow. Although my efforts to earn Pope’s freedom were rebuffed at the time, I accomplished what the State Department and Clinton-Gore Administration refused to do -- I let the Russians know that there were many leaders in the United States who care about Edmond Pope and want him released.

As someone who works closely with the Russian government to encourage U.S. business investment in Russia, I let officials know that the wrongful imprisonment of Pope would greatly hinder new investment. I was also successful in convincing the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia to voice their displeasure to the Russian government with Pope’s arrest.

While I believe we have made some progress, we need the support of the White House and the State department. This issue needs to be pressed on the Russians on a variety of fronts and on a continual basis. Only then will we be successful in winning Pope’s release so he can return to Pennsylvania, his wife, and his children.