Fifty-two Moscow Jewish refuseniks have written to President Reagan expressing their “great joy” on the release of the 52 American hostages from Iran and, in reference to their own plight, asked if “right has also triumphed,” it was reported here by the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry and the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews. The 52 Moscovites also requested that their sympathies be conveyed “to the families and friends of those who gave their lives attempting to free the hostages.”
“Now that justice has finally prevailed,” they continued, “we must ask you, Mr. President–has right also triumphed? To us, that is the most important question. There can be no peace and prosperity on earth without respect for law and morality.” Among the signers were long-term refuseniks Prof. Alexander Lerner, Pavel Abramovich, Vladimir Prestin and Lev Blitstein.
Meanwhile, Dr. Alla Drugova, wife of former Prisoner of Conscience Dr. Joseph Begun, has been refused an exit visa for herself and their two sons on the grounds that her husband has access to “state secrets”. From March 1977 until recent months Dr. Begun had served two sentences of internal banishment to Siberia, and is presently forbidden to live in Moscow with his family.
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