Begun Still in Prison, Soviet Aides Tell Wife

Jewish activist Josef Begun is still in prison, and Soviet authorities say they have had no orders to release him, his wife, Inna, reported Monday.

Georgy A. Arbatov, director of the Soviets’ Institute for the U.S.A. and Canada, said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday that Begun had been released, although not as a result of five days of demonstrations staged on his behalf in Moscow last week. Another demonstration in support of Begun took place in New York on Monday.

The demonstrations here ended Friday as men in plainclothes pushed, shoved and kicked some of the protesters and Western reporters. A small group of Begun’s family and friends had been urging the release of the 56-year-old mathematician under a review of political cases that officials say has so far freed 140 people from camps and prisons.

Inna Begun was sitting by the telephone Monday awaiting confirmation of Arbatov’s statement that Begun is “free now.”

Arbatov, speaking from a Moscow studio, said he had just learned by phone that the Begun case was resolved.

Informed by Ministry Officials

“Boris (Begun’s son) and I have talked to three people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and each said that Begun is in Chistopol prison, and there has been no order for his release,” Inna Begun said Monday night. Chistopol is about 500 miles east of Moscow.

Begun, who applied to emigrate to Israel in 1971, was sentenced on charges of anti-Soviet slander in 1983 to seven years in camp and five in internal exile.

Meanwhile, in New York City, demonstrators shouting “Free Begun now!” staged a noisy sit-in at the Soviet Mission to protest Begun’s continued imprisonment.

Fourteen of the demonstrators, including Begun’s cousin Zelda Tepper, a New York resident, were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

As they were arrested, at least 100 other demonstrators stood across the street at East 67th and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. They shouted “One two three four, open up the iron door; five six seven eight, let Begun emigrate.” They held placards with a picture of Begun behind bars.

‘Is He Still Alive?’

Carrying a black and white photograph of her cousin, Tepper said, “We’re asking the State Department for an official word about Begun. Is he still alive? Don’t make a martyr of him. We want him out alive.”

But the other demonstrators left soon after those arrested had been taken away in a police van. A police spokesman said the disorderly conduct charge carries a maximum $100 fine.

The protest was organized primarily by two organizations: the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry, and the Zionist Organization of America.

During a news conference before the New York protest began, members of the two groups called on Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev to free Begun and to release hundreds of other dissidents held in Soviet prisons.

They said they had received word through other dissidents that Begun was allowed only 900 calories of food per day, and they said they fear he may be dying.

‘A Man’s Life Is at Stake’

“This is a serious matter,” said Glenn Richter, vice president of Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry. “A man’s life is at stake.”

Tepper said she learned Monday morning that her cousin had not been released when she received a call from Begun’s wife.

Tepper said Inna told her, “I have bad news from the officials, from the penal officials. There is no statement about his liberation. Arbatov told a lie. My husband hasn’t been released, and they’re not going to liberate him.”