The authorities in Riga, Latvia, closed the entrance to the Jewish mass graves at Rumboli at the end of May, Jewish sources reported here today. The authorities said the area was needed for “military exercises.” Twenty-one Jews of Riga, in a cable to the authorities, protested their being barred from the graves of loved ones. In Kiev, the Ukraine, the sources continued, the authorities have prohibited the use of Hebrew inscriptions on tombstones in the Jewish cemeteries. The sources also reported that the appeal of Raiza Palatnik, sentenced to three years for alleged anti-Soviet activities, was not heard as scheduled Aug. 5, not Oct. 5 as previously reported, but was postponed until two weeks from then. No reason for the delay was immediately available.
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.