The Committee of Concerned scientists today “applauded” the understanding on Soviet trade and emigration worked out between the Ford Administration and legislative sponsors of the Jackson Amendment. A statement issued by. Fred Pollak and Mel Pomerantz, co-chairmen of the independent national organization that is active on behalf of scientists dented their rights in the Soviet Union, said: “The scientific community eagerly awaits implementation of those measures in the agreement which apply to its colleagues in the USSR.”
However, the statement called on the Soviet Union “to demonstrate good faith and intention now by dropping the unwarranted charges of parasitism against Alexander Voronel and not proceeding with the hearings set for Oct. 23.”
Voronel, a 43-year-old physicist, left his job at the Institute of Physical Mathematics in Moscow 2 1/2 years ago so as not to cause embarrassment to his colleagues when he applied for an exit visa to emigrate to Israel. His visa application has since been repeatedly denied and he remains without work. He has been summoned to a hearing in Moscow tomorrow on a charge of “parasitism” which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison.
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