Mr. Speaker. this Nation was founded by men who sought freedom. and as a Nation. we shall always identify with freedom seeking people everywhere. After decades of discrimination. and suppression of cultural and religious expression. the Jews of the Soviet Union are seeking the freedom to emigrate. But emigration from the Soviet Union is not free. It has come to my attention that 70yearold Leon Taviev of Riga. Latvian SSR. has not seen his sister Rakhil Taviev of Ramat Aviv. Israel. in almost 40 years. They are sick and elderly now. and Rakhil has no family except the Tavievs of Riga. When Premier Kosygin declared that the reunification of families policy would also apply to Jews who sought to emigrate. Rakhil Taviev sent affidavits to the four members of the Taviev family in Riga. They all looked forward to a speedy reunion. But. in April 1972. their applications to emigrate were denied. Bluma. Leon Tavievs wife. traveled from Riga to Moscow to find out why they were refused. She was told that she had worked in a censorship office during the years 194547. Bluma could not accept this absurd reason. and demanded that the family be given emigration permits. This action resulted in arrest and a 15day jail sentence. She also was threatened with a 3year prison sentence if she again demanded emigration permits. As a result. 59yearold Bluma Taviev suffered a heart attack. The ailing couple have been completely intimidated by these threats. and dare not apply again.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration