Plea from Russia

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32542, 27 February 1971, Page 7

Plea from Russia

(N.Z.P.A. 'Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 25.

Two Russian Jews have appealed in a letter to “The Times,” London, for help to emmigrate to Israel. Mr and Mrs Valentin Prussakov, of Moscow, write: “For a long time we have been trying unsuccessfully to leave this country for Israel."

“Our frequent applications to the visa office for permission to leave for Israel are invariably answered with a refusal. We are refused, regardless of the fact that there are not and cannot be any reasons preventing our departure.”

The couple say in their letter that they had also appealed to the presidium of the Supreme Soviet and to the Russian press, but without reply. They continue: “We bear them no grudge, and the only thing that really distresses us is that we aye still forced to be citizens of the Soviet Union.

“Nowadays no one contests the right of every, person freely to choose his citizenship. The Soviet Union also officially recognises this right”

The letter concludes: “We turn to you, and through you to all people of the Free World, with one request: Help us. Help us to escape from a country which for us is a wicked stepmother, and depart to our spiritual home —lsrael.”

A spokesman for “The Times” declined to reveal the source of the letter, but said that the paper was convinced that it was genuine.