I have been asked to deliver a message to my distinguished colleagues and other Americans. It was sent by telephone from Moscow by a 27yearold Jewish man. Vladimir Machlis. who. in the past 6 months. has applied six times to emigrate to Israel and has been tirned down six times by Soviet officials. The message was relayed to me yesterday by Vladimirs twin brother. Leonid. who. along with his mother and sister. Ella. were given permission to emigrate to Israel 6 months ago. Vladimirs message is: I have only one hope left now. that good people of America and everywhere will cry out for me. Leonid borrowed money to come to the United States and my office to deliver his brothers plea. He and the other two members of his family were granted exit permits only after much harassment and frustration. On the day Leonid received his emigration permit. a neighbor threw boiling water on his sisters head and face. causing seconddegree burns and leaving permanent scars. Leonid told me that. as a result of Government propaganda against those seeking to leave the Soviet Union. neighbors considered his family "traitors." Vladimir was constantly harassed by the KGB. even though he was a civil pilot for Aerofiot. the Russian airline. for 6 years. His troubles began while he was in pilot training.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration