Prof. Venyamin Levich, a noted electrochemist was expelled from the Soviet Academy of Science after he applied for a visa to emigrate to Israel the National Conference on Soviet Jewry reported today. Dr. Levich was also fired from his post at Moscow University and was dropped from the editorial boards of two journals. Electrochemistry and the Journal of Chemical Engineering. He lost his membership in scientific associations in which he had been active, the National Conference said.
The 55-year-old chemist was a signer of petitions upholding Jewish claims for freedom to emigrate. He was summoned to appear before the Academy’s disciplinary committee where he was told of the decision to expel him. He was also told his invitation to lecture at Oxford University had been “annulled,” because his appearance there would not “benefit the Academy.” Levich was further denied the right to accept an invitation from the Polytechnic Institute in Grenoble, France, Scientific aides working under Levich at the Moscow University were told he was no longer their advisor.
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