The National Conference on Soviet Jewry (NCSJ) reported today that it has learned that Soviet Prisoner of Conscience Mikhail Stern has been placed in solitary confinement. Dr. Stern, a noted endocrinologist, was sentenced to eight years imprisonment in 1975 on trumped-up charges brought because his sons wanted to emigrate to Israel. His sons, August and Viktor, also physicians, are now in Israel and campaigning to obtain their father’s release from prison and reunite his family in Israel.
Eugene Gold, NCSJ chairman, told a meeting of the NCSJ board of governors that Stern’s confinement must be viewed “with grave concern.” Stern was recently transferred to hard labor in the intensified regime camp to which he was sentenced, Gold reported. In view of Stern’s age, 58, and his ill-health, “we view this latest development as a deprivation of Stern’s rights.” Gold stated.
In another development, the NCSJ reported that Pesia Chapkovskaya, one of the oldest Soviet-Jewish “refusniks” has received an exit permit to Israel after waiting for 16 years. Upon first applying in April, 1961, the family was told that they would not receive a visa because a member of the family had served in the armed forces. They are expected to leave for Israel shortly.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
