Jews in Kharkov Threatened with Arrest if They Continue to Ask for Visas

Informed Jewish sources reported today that the director of the visa office in Kharkov has threatened Jews there with arrest if they continue to clamor for exit visas. The director, identified as a Maj. Davidov, reportedly told a group of Jews that “the situation has changed. We will not give any more visa.” According to the informants he said the reason visas were given in past months was the Soviet Communist Party Congress which was held in Moscow early in April. Now, he said, “everything has changed.” He allegedly warned the Jews, “Don’t do anything, don’t write letters, don’t send petitions, don’t make noise. If you make noise we will do with you what we did in Riga. We will find a reason to arrest you.” The Riga reference was to the trial of four Jews in that city two weeks ago in which the defendants were convicted of anti-Soviet activities and sentenced to 1-3 year prison terms. Jewish sources also reported today that the Russian-Jewish painter, Mikhail Pirovhkov, who was hospitalized after being assaulted by hooligans on a Moscow street May 28 was stabbed eight times. Previous reports had said only that he was beaten up. The new information also revealed that his brother was assaulted and hospitalized at the same time but has been released from the hospital. Pirovhkov is still undergoing treatment, the sources said.