The National Conference on Soviet Jewry has learned that the Supreme Court of the Russian Republic (RSFSR) has turned down the appeal of Boris Azernikov and upheld his 3 1/2 year prison sentence. The appeal was heard some time last week, according to the Conference. Azernikov, a 25-year-old Jewish dentist, was tried and convicted for alleged “anti-Soviet” activity and sentenced to a strict regime prison camp.
His conviction was based on allegedly “Incriminating” documents found in a search of his apartment: a book of poems by the Hebrew poet, Hayim Nahman Bialik, a Hebrew calendar and a copy of a letter protesting the denial of visas to Soviet Jews. Dr. Azernikov had testified on behalf of Jews in the Leningrad trials, but was not arrested until he applied for emigration himself last June. The Conference stated that the Soviet authorities are making an example of Azernikov in order to discourage exit applications by other Jews.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
