Yaacov Sharett, First Secretary of the Israeli Embassy at Moscow, who was ousted by the Soviet Government this weekend, accused the USSR on his arrival here last night, on his way home to Jerusalem, of trumping up “a fake espionage charge” against him.
Mr. Sharett said that he and his wife were arrested last Thursday, at Riga. He stated that both he and Mrs. Sharett had been “handled roughly” by the Russian police.
In announcing his ouster, Tass, the official Soviet news agency, had declared that the Israeli diplomat had been “caught red-handed in espionage.”
Yaacov Sharett is a son of Moshe Sharett, Israel’s erstwhile Prime Minister, who was the Government’s Foreign Minister for a number of years.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.