Vladimir Brodsky, a 41-year-old Moscow cardiologist, was sentenced last Friday to three years in a Soviet labor camp on charges of alleged “hooliganism,” the National Conference on Soviet Jewry reported. Brodsky’s wife, who was at the trial, reported that he vows to continue the hunger strike he began several weeks ago for the duration of his sentence.
Brodsky, who has sought to be repatriated to Israel since 1980, was accused of “assaulting” a police officer in May. In fact, he was stopped by auxiliary police, who demanded that he produce indentity papers, the National Conference said. When Brodsky protested their lack of warrant, he was forcibly taken to a police station. Although he was released at the time, formal charges were subsequently filed and he was arrested on July 17.
Brodsky’s sentence comes one week after a Leningrad court sentenced 49-year-old Hebrew teacher Roald Zelichonok to three years in a labor camp. Hebrew teacher Leonid Volvovsky, an 11-year refusenik, of Gorki was arrested on June 25 and remains in a Gorki prison awaiting trial.
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