Jewish sources in the Soviet Union reported yesterday that the Soviet Jewish ballet dancer Valery Panov called off a hunger strike he began 21 days ago in protest against the refusal of the Soviet authorities to allow him and his ballerina wife, Galina Rogozina, to leave for Israel. Last week, the ovir for the first time accepted applications for Panov and his wife for exit visas. It is not known whether he had any response as yet but the acceptance as such was already a move forward. Galina ended her hunger strike earlier and Valery ended his yesterday after doctors warned him that his health was in danger. He reportedly told friends that if visas were not forthcoming he would resume his hunger strike.
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.
