Soviets May Be Easing Jewish Emigration Policy

Permission for a longtime Jewish refusenik to leave the Soviet Union for Israel, combined with other recent events, suggest that there may be a new turn in the Soviet attitude toward Jewish emigration.

Soviet authorities recently informed Mark Nashpits, a Moscow dentist in his mid-30s, that he will be granted a visa to emigrate. In 1975, he was sentenced to five years in Siberian exile for having briefly unfolded a placard in front of the Lenin Library in Moscow to protest Soviet denial of his emigration application.

Nashpits completed his sentence and was allowed to return to Moscow almost five years ago. But until recently, he had still been refused a visa. He was one of the first to feel the impact of the harsher Soviet policy instituted in 1980.

Nashpits is the latest of three so-called prisoners of conscience to receive permission to emigrate since July.

Kremlin officials have hinted that the Soviet emigration and human rights policies could be eased if U.S.-Soviet relations improve--specifically, with increased bilateral trade. And the Soviets have usually increased Jewish emigration or made other concessions to improve the climate when, as now, a U.S.-Soviet summit is scheduled.

Would Reduce an Irritant

But some U.S. officials now also see the possibility that the Soviets want to make Jewish emigration less a U.S.-Soviet issue and more an Israeli-Soviet issue. If that happened, a major irritant in relations between Moscow and Washington would be reduced.

Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union is at about its lowest level since it began two decades ago. So far this year, just over 700 exit visas have be granted.

U.S. officials and American Jewish organizations say there is no sign yet of a return to the more liberal Soviet policy of the 1970s. But other moves indicate that the Kremlin is prepared to be more flexible if U.S.-Soviet relations improve. Some of the signs:

--An apparent easing of the policy of not granting emigration visas to refuseniks (Soviet Jews refused permission to leave) who have served prison sentences. Until about 1980, refuseniks had been quickly granted visas after they served a term in prison.

--Apparent Soviet willingness to accommodate Israel’s long-sought desire to have Soviet Jews emigrate to Israel via Romania, instead of Austria. Under that arrangement, U.S. officials say, fewer Soviet Jews would be tempted to detour to Western Europe or the United States after being given permission to emigrate to Israel. Currently, more than half of emigrating Soviet Jews “drop out” at Vienna, making the West their final destination.

--The Soviets’ apparent willingness to accept ordinary Israeli tourists for the first time since 1967.

The Israeli newspaper Hadashot reported earlier this month that, starting this month, Israeli tourists will be allowed to travel to the Soviet Union using a Spanish government tourist office. The report followed an announcement that Spain’s Socialist government will soon establish diplomatic relations with Israel.

Moscow broke diplomatic relations with Israel in 1967 at the start of the Six-Day War. Some Israelis have visited the Soviet Union since then, but only as part of official delegations such as sports teams and academic groups. No tourists have been accepted.