Shcharansky Relatives Get Israel Visas

The family of former Soviet dissident Anatoly Shcharansky on Tuesday received exit visas that will enable them to join him in Israel.

Anatoly’s brother Leonid, 40, said Soviet authorities issued three visas: one for himself, one for his mother, Ida Milgrom, 77, and one covering his wife Raya, 40, and sons, Alexander, 14, and Boris, 1.

The family learned earlier this month that they would be allowed to join Anatoly, who was freed last February in a prisoner exchange after serving eight years of a 13-year sentence on spying charges.

Leonid said then that the family planned to fly to Vienna Aug. 23 en route to Israel. But he said Tuesday that he had been unable to get tickets for that day and did not know when they would fly.

Soviet authorities promised that the visas will remain valid until they can get a flight, he said.

“This is the final hurdle,” said Leonid, a computer engineer, whose family has been trying to leave the Soviet Union since Anatoly was freed.

The family, which campaigned for eight years for Anatoly’s release, always refused to apply for emigration until he was out.

Leonid said earlier this month that the family was now looking forward to a quiet life without harassment from the KGB security police or the nuisance of being followed by journalists.

Anatoly Shcharansky has been living in Israel with his wife, Avital, since his emigration.