Vladimir underwent harassment. several arrests. anddetention at the hands of the Soviet police. Opportunities for employment of any kind disappeared. Even his father. with whom Vladimir had had a falling out over Soviet policies. worked against him. using his position to influence the OVIRvisa refusal boardto deny Vladimirs request for a visa. In 1976. Vladimir Slepak joined Nobel Peace Prize winner. Andrel Sakharov. in his efforts to monitor Soviet compliance of the Helsinki Accords. Vladimir and Maria underwent a divorce so as to allow Maria a chance to seek emigration under the family reunification provisions of the Helsinki Accords. Marias mother had been allowed to leave the Soviet Union in 1972 and Maria applied for a visa to join her but was refused. The KGB agents assigned to their house never allowed Vladimir and Maria to live in peace. Another setback came when their youngest son. Leonid. was ordered to be drafted into the Soviet Army. Leonid went into hiding. and drifted between Armenia and Moscow for several years. Had Leonid complied with the draft order. his own emigration would have been postponed for several more years. The reason? Exposure to "state secrets." Leonids older brother.
Keywords matched
family reunification emigration visa