Soviet authorities have postponed until Dec. 15 the trial of 12 persons, most of them Jews, charged with the attempted hijacking of a Soviet airliner at Leningrad airport last June, it was learned here today. The trial was supposed to have begun last Friday. The postponement was not officially announced but was reported from Jewish sources. The sources said it would be one of four trials involving 31 people, all but two of them Jews. The 19 others were arrested in secret police crackdowns in four Russian cities after the alleged hijacking attempt. They are reportedly charged with anti-Soviet activities. Jewish sources said all 31 were being prosecuted for their desire to emigrate to Israel and to strengthen Jewish culture in the USSR. It was not clear whether the trials would be held concurrently or at intervals. A Russian Jew arrested on the U.S. Embassy steps in Moscow two weeks ago was freed last Wednesday after spending seven days in jail, it was learned here today. Leonid G. Rigelman, 30, was prevented by police from entering the Embassy where he had filed a claim for American citizenship. He was charged with resisting an officer. Rigelman, who is Russian born, claims U.S. citizenship on grounds that his mother was born in the U.S. and his father is a naturalized U.S. citizen.
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