July 8, 197G

Academician Vladimir 5. Timakov,
President
C.S.S.E. Acaday of E;edical Science
S01ys11ka 14, xoscow, U.S.S.R.

Gear colleague:

X have been gratified to raad in t!te press of the release of geneticist
Zhores A. Hedvedev from ismoluntary confinement in a mental institution.
Let me say in all car:dor that the incident 88 well as it could be
obserwd in the United States had all of the earmarks of the return of
political repression of scientific freedcm.  I hope that the authorities
in your country will not be Eisled by the rather limited level of public
expression by scientists here in reacting to this situation.  When we
read of events like this the trio&t unpleasant Images of authoritarian
repression are evoked, iclages for which there is unfortunately all to
substantial a precedent in many countries in the world.  I have delayed
somewhat in replying to the situation mainly out of perplexity as to
whether Fedvedev's personal fate would be helped or hindered by such
comment.  This kind of reticence may however obscure your own correct
perception of how such matters are perceived !lere and this can only lead
to further miacalculatlona and an erosion of the confidence of the world
scientific community about the freedom of scientific investigation in
the Soviet Union.

Sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg
Professior of Genetics

.JL/ged

cc Academician Mstislav V. Keldysh, President
  b.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences
Leninsky Prospekt 14
  htoscow, U.S.S.R.

bee Mark K. Benenson, Chairman
   Amnesty International
    Suite 1213
    3.346 Connecticut Avenue
   Washington, D.C. 20036