The Supreme Soviet today ratified the Aug. 3 decree establishing high visa fees for college-educated Jews seeking to emigrate from the Soviet Union, the National Conference for Soviet Jewry reported tonight. The NCSJ also reported that 30 Moscow Jews, among them leading activists, are being held by Soviet authorities following demonstrations outside the Supreme Soviet over the visa fee issue. Sixteen were arrested yesterday and 14 more were picked up today, the NCSJ said. Jewish sources in the Soviet Union expressed fear today that the 30 may be held in custody until after Simhat Torah (Oct. 1) in order to discourage Jewish demonstrations during the holiday.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
