Mr. Speaker. at last the Soviet Union has seen fit to release Valery and Galina Panovfreedom loving and intensely creative artistsand to allow this talented man and wife to emigrate to a new life In Israel. Certainly. all who understand the true meaning of liberty rejoice at the news of this couples triumph over open and flagrant oppression and harassment by their own government. Their resilient spirit and irrepressible resolve In the face of intense anguish are an inspiration to all men and women throughout the world. Valery and Galina have been trying for over 2 years to obtain visas to emigrate from the Soviet Union to Israel. Both had come to realize the country in which they lived and the government they served could neither support nor permit a full realization of their creative spirit. Instead. with oppression all around them they could only feel more and more shackled by the society in which they lived. Until their fateful decision to leave their country. the Panovs were celebrities in the Soviet Union--shining stars of the ballet in a country where ballet is a preeminent art form. Valery was first male dancer in the Kirov Ballet and Galina also belonged to the world renowned company. Upon applying for exit visas to Israel in March 1972. however. Valery. a Jew. was dismissed from the company. while Galina. who is not Jewish. was demoted to the lowest rank. Eventually she also chose to leave the company. Since that time these two people have not only been cut off from their livelihood and their beloved art. but have also been harassed and treated brutally by the authorities. Numerous attempts to obtain visas failed. and Valery was jailed temporarily for encounters with police. Last December. to the horror of the Panovs and the entire free world. the Soviets gave Valery a visa but required his wife to remain in the Soviet Union. Early in February they said that Galina would never be able to leave and that Valerys visa would be revoked unless he left without his wife. Valery steadfastly refused to do this. Freedomloving people in the world took up the cause of the Panovs. urging the Soviet Government to release them. It was my honor to join my colleagues in the House in signing a letter earlier this year calling on the Soviet Government to allow Galina to emigrate with her husband. The letter was sent to Leonid I. Brezhnev.
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