It does not constiute a commitment. However. the objective of the Final Act is to overcome existing tensions on a basis of voluntarily granted concessions. Yet the Soviet Union has proven to be extremely reluctant to voluntarily adjust its human rights and emigration policies to the standards expressed in the Helsinki Final Act. As of today. the Soviet Union has not recognized the right of its citizens to emigrate. Applying for emigration is still a costly. lengthy. complicated. and arbitrary process with uncertain results. Members of the Helsinki monitoring groups have faced heavy sentences. their trials being marked by permanent violations of internationally accepted standards for fair trials. Political abuses of psychiatry and imprisonment for religious beliefs occur every day--despite the Helsinki Final Act.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration