Abstract
In the last number of INDEX we described how an appeal had been launched by scientists in Britain and other countries for the release of the Soviet scientist, Professor B. G. Levich, so that he could move with his family to Israel. One of the significant aspects of this appeal was the growing solidarity it revealed among the scientists of the world and a strong feeling that academic freedom was indivisible. This was not a complete picture of the situation among scientists, however, for there are many who believe that it is not the business of scholars and learned societies to concern themselves with the lives and working conditions of other scholars. Such a view is probably the majority one in countries such as Britain - judging by the recent response to the predicament of another detained Soviet scholar, Professor Alexander Lerner - and is apparently supported by Professor Brenet of the University of Brussels. The following statement was issued on 12 November 1972 by Professor Levich - who is still prevented from leaving the Soviet Union - in response to a letter he had received from Professor Brenet.