Reports that the Soviet Union may restrict emigration to those with close relatives in the country of the emigrant’s destination remained unconfirmed today here and in Moscow. Richard Maass, chairman of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry, said he hoped the reports were untrue but added that “it would appear that the Soviet Union is again going to attempt to thwart the growing movement of Soviet Jews to emigrate in yet another spurious and cruel maneuver.”
The USSR’s Department of Visas and Foreign Registrations announced cryptically Saturday that a procedural change in the emigration regulations would be made Dec. 1. “If the procedures for emigration are being considered for revision by the Soviet government,” Maass said, “they have an opportunity to liberalize those laws and improve their image in the West.”
The NCSJ quoted Roman Rutman, a Moscow activist who has received an exit visa, as saying today that the rumored new restrictions, if true, “will be a real disaster for a large percentage of Jews having applied or preparing to apply.” According to the rumors, prospective emigrants would have to receive permission from a mother, father, child, sister, brother, wife or husband in the country of destination. Current regulations require approval from any relative in that country.
The Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry, which also could not confirm the reports, but said it had been aware of them for two weeks, added that according to unconfirmed reports only two visas were issued to Jews in Moscow in the last month.
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