Two leading Kishinev refusniks today began a five-day hunger strike which they threaten to repeat at the beginning of every month until their exit visas are approved, the National Conference on Soviet Jewry (NCSJ) reported. Aleksandr Khozin, 32, and Vladimir Tsukerman, 32, sent a letter of appeal to Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev asking that their exit visas be granted. They said they wish to be reunited with their families in Israel and will continue their hunger strikes until their visas are approved.
Khozin and his wife, Nina, and their son first applied to emigrate in June, 1977 but have been refused due to his past military service. Tsukerman first applied to emigrate to Israel in 1974. His wife, Faina, and young son, Aleksandr, emigrated to Israel in May, 1978. He was fired from his job this past May and now fears that parasitism charges will be brought against him.
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