Three Minsk Jews whose “show trial” was apparently shelved by Soviet authorities, cabled thanks today to Premier Golda Meir and the people of Israel The three, Yefim Davidovitz. Lev Obsitzer and Nahum Olashansky, said the decision to discontinue judicial proceedings against them was made thanks to the existence of the State of Israel. They did not elaborate. But they offered thanks to Israelis and Jewish groups outside of Israel for helping them and for effecting the release of Gedalia Kipnis, a Minsk activist who had spent five months in jail awaiting the trial.
It was learned, meanwhile, that the trial, believed to involve some 100 Minsk Jews, was cancelled on orders from the Byelorussian Supreme Soviet, probably acting on instructions from Moscow. The wording of the letter sent by the Supreme Soviet to the Minsk prosecutor on May 22 hinted at an amnesty. The charges against the defendants were neither dropped nor declared unfounded.
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