Soviets Release Begun After 3 Years in Prison

Soviet authorities today freed Jewish activist Josef Begun after more than three years in prison, ending a week of confusion prompted by conflicting official reports on his fate.

Begun, a 55-year-old mathematician and teacher of Hebrew, was one of 150 dissidents to be freed in the last three weeks. When his relatives staged protests in Moscow last week demanding his freedom, they were roughed up by security agents.

Begun’s wife, Inna, and his son, Boris, traveled to Chistopol prison, 500 miles east of Moscow, to be on hand for the release after being told by the Interior Ministry on Thursday that Begun would be freed some time after noon today.

Boris Begun’s wife, Yana, who stayed in Moscow, said she received a call from Chistopol at 5 p.m. announcing that her father-in-law was free.

‘Fair Health’ Reported

She said she was told by her husband and mother-in-law that Begun is in “fair health.” She said the family plans to return to Moscow on Sunday.

Begun was sentenced in October, 1983, to seven years in prison for anti-Soviet activity. He was pardoned Tuesday by the Supreme Soviet.

Nearly a week of confusion preceded Begun’s release. It started Sunday, when a Soviet official announced prematurely on U.S. television that Begun had been freed.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Gennady Gerasimov finally confirmed Thursday that Begun had been pardoned and would be freed.

Series of Protests

It was not clear whether Begun would be allowed to leave the country, as he first requested in 1971. Inna Begun said that when the Interior Ministry official called her Thursday, he offered no information on future arrangements for the family.

Last week, Begun’s relatives and other dissidents in Moscow staged a series of protests demanding Begun’s release and calling for emigration rights for Soviet Jews. The protesters and Western reporters covering the demonstrations were roughed up by security agents.

Begun’s family said other freed dissidents have told them that Begun was the last prisoner held in Chistopol for alleged anti-Soviet activity.