Dr. Nahum Salansky, a leading Jewish activist of Vilna, had his exit visa revoked after he received formal permission to emigrate to Israel to join his ailing mother, Ida Salansky, it was reported here by the National Conference on Soviet Jewry and the Greater New York Conference on Soviet Jewry. He had been expected to leave the Soviet Union April 26.
The decision to revoke Salansky’s visa came without warning, the two Soviet Jewry groups said. Earlier this month, Soviet authorities ended a four-month investigation against the 45-year-old physicist who had held weekly seminars on Judaica for several dozen participants in his home. The Vilna prosecutor signed a document dropping charges of “anti-Soviet slander” against Salansky. On April 5 he received permission to emigrate and on April 14 permission was denied. If authorities resume the investigation he may face up to three years’ imprisonment on charges of “anti-Soviet slander,” the two groups noted.
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.