12 Refuseniks Receive Permission

Twelve refuseniks, many of them denied permission to emigrate for several years because of their alleged knowledge of “state secrets,” received permission to leave the Soviet Union late last week, the National Conference on Soviet Jewry announced Tuesday.

They comprise the largest single group to be granted visas at one time since the November 1988 large-scale permissions made as a goodwill gesture prior to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s visit to Washington.

The group includes long-term refuseniks, such as Alexander Piatetsky, waiting 15 years, and Mark Berenfeld, 12 years, as well as Vadim Ploskikh, who was refused on secrecy grounds as recently as June 1988 and told that he would have to wait until 1993. Ploskikh’s wife and children are already living in Israel.

Other “secrecy” refuseniks to get permission are Mikhail Gurfink, Boris Lifshits, Ilya Pinsker and Georgi Pozoniakov, all of Moscow.

Also, Don Koslenko of Odcssa, an eight-year refusenik who received and was then denied permission.

From Leningrad, Inna Gorenshtain, a 12-year refusenik; Valery Spitovsky, waiting eight years; and Mikhail Yusim, 11 years.

And from the Ukrainian city of Zaporozhe, World War II decorated veteran Naum Rabinovich, a seven-year refusenik who last year was told he would not be allowed to leave before 1996.

Commented Shoshana Cardin, chairwoman of the National Conference, “Let us hope, as we prepare to celebrate Passover, that, in our recounting of the Exodus, we may be able to include the names of many more Soviet Jews in the list of those granted permission to leave the Soviet Union.”