For extorting money from twenty-five declassed Jews on a threat of refusing to grant them citizenship, A. Greenblatt, chairman of the local Soviet in the township of Slavuta, Ukraine, was removed from his position today and will be put on trial together with a number of other local Soviet officials.
The twenty-five Jews discriminated against were recently permitted to take jobs in a local lumber mill, despite the fact that they were still being considered in the category of “declassed” elements. While working at the mill they proved to be among the best workers and were recommended for citizenship.
The local Soviet had no objection to granting them full citizenship. However, they were notified by some of the officials of the Soviet, including the chairman, Greenblatt, that citizenship would be granted to them only if they paid 500 roubles as a “gift” to the Soviet.
Having no alternative, the Jews sold everything they possibly could, and raised the 500 roubles. At the same time, however, the district prosecutor got wind of Greenblatt’s demand and arrested him and several of his accomplices on the charge of “trading with citizenship.”
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.
