Dr. Valeri Lapidus, 42 who emigrated from the Soviet Union to Israel last May, disclosed today that his brother Dr. Victor Lapidus is undergoing extreme harassment by Soviet authorities. A senior researcher at the building research station of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Valeri Lapidus told the American Society for Technion here that his brother had tried numerous methods to obtain an exit visa for Israel, all without success.
He said he first applied for a visa last Aug. and received permission to-leave upon payment of 25.700 rubles (about $30.000). but was later told he would not have to pay the ransom if he left within 10 days. He and his wife then quit their Jobs, his 11-year-old daughter withdrew from school, and his 19-year-old daughter and her husband were expelled from the university. They were also dispossessed from their apartment in addition, he paid 900 rubles for a visa for each member of his family. A month later, however, he was told it had all been a mistake and that he would not be permitted to leave.
Valeri Lapidus is in the U.S. to meet with Congressmen and with United Automobile Workers Union representatives to obtain help for his 51-year-old brother, who worked in Moscow’s automobile Industry research institute.
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