Prof. Herman Branover of Riga has gone into hiding after being accused of killing a child with his car, it was reported today by the National Conference on Soviet Jewry, which called the charge preposterous. They said Prof. Branover, 40, was called to the police station Monday and released late yesterday with instructions to appear in court, but that he disappeared instead.
Last week he was asked to sign a letter declaring that he would not attempt to focus attention on his denied request to emigrate to Israel, while President Nixon was in Moscow, and pledging not to leave Riga. He refused to sign the letter of obligation and was subsequently detained on a daily basis by the KGB. Prof. Branover, an eminent physicist, has been unemployed since he applied to emigrate to Israel 14 months ago.
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