Speech #1020150515

In addition. over half of those polled expressed their feeling that there is a possibility in the near future of a flare of antiSemitism with accompanying acts of brutality. As one Soviet Jew wrote in his letter to a staff member at the Center for Human Rights Advocacy. "And now we feel as if we lived on a volcano expecting a new break of violence any moment. And Jews. as you know. are to blame for everything." Most important. though. there are a number of Moldovan Jews who have been experiencing great difficulties in their attempts to emigrate. Several of these Jewish citizens. such as Gagarna Bystrik. Karmanova Finkel. and Sovetskoy Gospas have been trying to secure permission to emigrate for over 10 years. but have been refused on completely arbitrary grounds. In other cases. such as that of Gennady Blunin. Jewish citizens. have been subject to extralegal prosecution. merely for their desire to emigrate. Mr. Blumin. who has been held in Jail for over a decade for the offense of using Government supplies to make beach bags for private sale. was never questioned durifig the investigation. was denied the right to be present at his trial and was given a 12year sentence for what is normally a 4 to 5 year crime. All of this has led many to the conclusion that Mr. Blumins expressed interest to emigrate has brought the wrath of antiJewish sentiment to bear down upon him. There are growing accounts of the Moldovan Governments willingness to support the remaining Jewish population. According to Aleksandr Brodsky. the editor of the newspaper Nash Golos. a home for elderly Jews will be founded. there will be a department of Judaica at the university. former prisoners of ghettos and concentration camps will be given the status of disabled veterans and food aid for poor Jews will be given during the winters.