Former Poc in Catch-22 Situation

Former Prisoner of Conscience, Alexander Silnitsky, has been denied both an exit visa to Israel and his own internal registration papers, the Greater New York Conference on Soviet Jewry has learned. This paperless state may result in Silnitsky’s imprisonment, with a possible two-year penalty, the Conference said.

Silnitsky was released from labor camp in October, 1977 after serving a three year term for refusing to serve in the Soviet army. He married soon and attempted to register his residence in Krasnador, where his wife lived. Krasnador officials refused to process their registration. Silnitsky then attempted to register in Kharkov, his birthplace, but he was turned down there as well.

After several fruitless months, Silnitsky and his wife were allowed to register their residence in a small town near Kharkov last May 22. A few days later, their papers now in order, they were able to submit their emigration application to the Kharkov OVIR. Their residency registration was cancelled on June 27, however, on the grounds that their apartment was too small. Within a week the Silnitskys were told that they were no longer eligible to emigrate because they lack registration papers.

In an earlier case, losif Begun was sentenced to two years in internal exile last month because he was residing in Moscow without a permit. He, too, had been denied registration papers after he completed a one year sentence on false charges of parasitism. Six weeks ago Begun went on a hunger strike to protest his imprisonment. The Conference has learned that he has ended his hunger strike. His wife, Alla Drugova, was allowed to see him in a hospital. Begun is reported to be in poor physical condition.