The trial of 51-year-old Moscow Hebrew teacher losif Begun is scheduled to begin this week, according to information made available to the National Conference on Soviet Jewry. Arrested for an unprecedented third time last November 6 and held well past the nine month limit for pre-trial incarceration, he faces a possible 13-year term.
His case has elicited an outpouring of support, including letters on his behalf signed by 98 U.S. Senators and sent to President Reagan, Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin and Secretary of State George Shultz.
A mathematician by profession. Begun has long since been active in the Jewish cultural and emigration movements. He has been waiting over 12 years for permission to emigrate to Israel.
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