According to the National Conference on Soviet Jewry, applications may no longer be processed at the central city ovir offices. Instead, district militia will process them. This makes it more difficult to check on the number of applicants and refusals. Richard Maass, chairman of the NCSJ, said “This is of great concern to the NCSJ which maintains a roster of “otkazniki” (those refused), which we have submitted to proper authorities whenever it has been appropriate. The move is seen as another obstacle in the path of easier emigration procedure.”
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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.