State Department to Contact USSR on ‘very High Level’ to Discuss Rigerman Case

The State Department said today that it would make further representations very soon to the Soviet Union on a “very high level” on behalf of Leonid Rigerman, a Soviet Jew, and his mother, who are trying to secure exit visas to come to the United States. Rigerman, who was born in Russia, was recently granted his claim to U.S. citizenship on grounds that his mother was born in this country. But the Soviet Union considers the Rigermans Soviet citizens and does not recognize dual citizenship state Department spokesman Robert J. McCloskey told newsmen when questioned on the matter today. He said the U.S. had made “many representations” on behalf of the Rigermans and “will do so again very soon.” However, he added, “there is a limit to what we can do.” McCloskey said the State Department was aware of charges by the Rigermans’ American attorney, New York City official Daniel Greer, that the U.S. was dragging its feet in the Rigerman case.