A Jewish doctor in Riga has appealed to Nikolai Podgorny, President of the Supreme Soviet, for approval of his petition to renounce Soviet citizenship and for an exit permit so that he can immigrate to Israel, it was reported here today. The letter, attributed to Dr. Mendel Gonochovitch Gordin, of 12-17 Skoals Street, Riga, was the second such appeal by Soviet Jews to come to light in recent weeks. Earlier this month, a Jewish family of five in Moscow was reported to have asked President Podgorny to intervene on behalf of their application for emigration which had been rejected by local Soviet authorities.
Dr. Gordin allegedly asked for release from Soviet citizenship because Soviet authorities refused to grant him an exit visa to go to Israel. According to a copy of his purported letter which reached here, he wrote: “In compliance with the international convention concerning the abolishment of all forms of racial discrimination, part one, chapter five, paragraph one, ratified by the Supreme Soviet on 22 January, 1969, in Moscow, any citizen is entitled to leave any country. On Feb. 5,1969, I lodged with the visas and registration office (a department of the interior ministry) an application for an exit permit to Israel, which was denied to me on March 28,1969. I categorically declare that it is my will to live only in my motherland, as such I regard Israel. Taking into account the aforesaid, I give up my Soviet citizenship, I enclose herewith my passport–series XX-UYU, No. 642423.
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