Speech #960226810

I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues the plight of the Pshonik family. Boris and Anna Pshonik continue to wait in Riga. Latvia. for permission to emigrate to Israel. This year they wait alone. Last year I was working so that their entire family could receive visas. After years of waiting the Pshoniks soninlaw. Valerie Raines. their granddaughter. Ilana. and Valeries mother were finally given visas. For this I am very grateful. However. the visas came shortly after Galena. the Pshoniks daughter. was murdered under very suspicious circumstances. Soviet authorities refused to allow the family to see the body. Boris Pshonik is in bad health. He has had a number of heart attacks. He has lost his daughter. His soninlaw and granddaughter have emigrated. Sadly. Boris and Anna are now alone in the Soviet Union. Why will the Soviets not give them visas? They claim Dr Pshonik knows military secrets. Dr. Pshonik has been retired from the military nearly 8 years. It is my understanding and the understanding of those working on this case with me that 5 years is the maximum number of years under Soviet law one should be denied a visa for the reason of knowing military secrets. Dr. Pshonik was recently called into the OVIR office. He was told not to reapply because he has 3 more years on a 10year security risk waiting period before he can be considered for a visa. He was also told this could all change at anytime. that he could be called into the OVIR office and given a visa. This contradiction in communications Is. to say the least. distressing. Again this year I urge the Soviet Union to allow Boris and Anna Pshonik to emigrate to Israel. I urge the Soviet Union to comply with international human rights standards and allow this family to live in their homeland of Israel.*