The National Conference on Soviet Jewry reported today that the trial of Vladimir Markman, Sverdlovsk Jewish activist, is due to begin tomorrow. Markman is charged with distribution of anti-Soviet propaganda and sending abroad information deleterious to the Soviet Union for pay. He has been trying to obtain a Moscow lawyer to defend him in his case, but has consistently been refused permission to obtain one. The NCSJ said that a court appointed lawyer from Sverdlovsk will defend Markman.
Olga Treigirman and Yakov Barenboin, both of Kishinev, participated in a week-long hunger strike last week in front of the Central Committee building of the Communist Party in Moscow on behalf of Markman, the NCSJ reported. They have now been refused exit visas to Israel on the basis of the hunger strike.
The NCSJ, along with other Jewish groups interested in the Soviet Jewry issue has cabled the chief Soviet prosecutor, Roman Rudenko, asking him for “leniency for Vladimir Markman since his alleged crimes are spurious and he and his family should be permitted to emigrate to Israel,” Jerry Goodman, NCSJ executive director announced.
In Rostov, Lazar Lubarsky has been refused a Moscow attorney, in a case following the pattern of the Markman case, the NCSJ reported today. Lubarsky is charged with violation of Article 193 of the Soviet penal code, spreading false information about the Soviet Union. No trial date has been set as yet, according to the National Conference.
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