Jewish Woman in Riga Reports Seven or Eight Jewish Families Receive Exit Permits

A Jewish woman in Riga reported today that “seven or eight” Jewish families in the Soviet Latvian capital have received exit permits and that others have been told by Soviet authorities that they would be issued exit visas when peace was restored in the Middle East. The woman, Mrs. Rivka Aleksandrovich, was contacted by telephone by Kol Israel radio. She is the mother of Ruth Aleksandrovich, one of five Riga Jews under arrest and reportedly awaiting trial on charges of alleged anti-Soviet activities. Mrs. Aleksandrovich denied rumors current in Israel that 40 Jewish families in Riga received exit permits. She confirmed that Maj. Grischa Feigin, a former Soviet Jewish Army officer who was released from a mental institution last month, is preparing to leave shortly for Israel. Feigin received an exit permit last week, according to word received by friends in Israel. Mrs. Aleksandrovich said he has turned his flat over to the authorities and is now visiting friends to say goodbye. He is expected to go to Moscow in two days to board a plane for Vienna enroute to Israel. Feigin was incarcerated briefly in a mental institution after returning his World War II combat medals in a gesture of protest against Soviet anti-Jewish policies.