Report Dzhemilev Released

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Mustafa Dzhemilev, the Tatar activist, who was serving a two-and-a-half year sentence for alleged anti-Soviet activity, was released having completed his term, reported the Associated Press citing dissident sources.

It was the fourth prison term for the 33-year-old physicist, who is said to be in poor health and whose case has been a rallying point for dissidents.

As reported in this paper last week, Leonid Plyushch and three other emigre dissidents had written a letter in defense of Dzhemilev, which was published by The New York Times of December 20th.

The letter reminded that Dzhemilev's term was to expire on December 22nd, but that there was fear that as on three previous occasions he might have been re-arrested by the Soviet authorities while in prison.

Also speaking out in his defense was Dr. Andrei Sakharov.

Dzhemilev's third term was to have ended in June of 1975, but he was re-arrested and sentenced in April of 1976 to two-and-a-half years forced labor. He was given credit for time served.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, December 31, 1977, No. 289, Vol. LXXXIV

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