On June 22. 1969. the Soviet Union agreed to the United Nations International Commission on Racial Discrimination. and Article 13 of that document specifically commits signatory nations to allowing those who wish to leave their homelands to do so. The Soviet Union is specifically. therefore. in violation of a treaty to which it is formally committed. It is. I think. a hopeful sign that the Soviet Union is sufficiently responsive to world opinion to have rescinded the death penalty and to have lowered the terms of imprisonment. But now it must heed the warnings of these and other attempts of Soviet nationals to leave the Soviet Union and abide by the agreement to which it has committed itself and allow those of its citizens who wish to emigrate to other lands to do so without fear or penalty.
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emigrate