Two memorial services were held this weekend in Rumbule near Riga, it was reported by the National Conference on Soviet Jewry. One service was conducted by Latvian officials while the other one, some time later, was conducted by an undisclosed number of Jews. The NCSJ said that officials at the scene of the Jewish yizkor services did not attempt to interfere or harass the Jews.
At the same time, the NCSJ reported that in addition to 16-day “hooliganism” sentences imposed on 24 Jews this weekend, part of a group of hunger-strikers, nine of those sentenced have also been fined 20 rubles ($25 each).
The Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry said the 24 prisoners are allowed one hot meal every other day and 400 calories of bread and water between meals, and not allowed any warm clothing or blankets. Meanwhile, Jewish sources reported that 53 Soviet Jews have written to President Nikolai V. Podgorny and Communist Party chief Leonid I. Brezhnev to appeal for Sylva Zalmanson Kuznetsov’s release.
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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.
