It is important to note that the only evidence against Guberman. who was charged with "acquisition or marketing of property known to have been criminally acquired." is that of the testimony of two criminals who were previously sentenced for stealing icons. These men are just two examples of the vast numbers of individuals who are denied their basic freedoms. Despite the pronouncement that a record number of Soviet citizens are applying for visas. it is a sad but true fact that less people are free to emigrate. This situation will get increasingly worse as the Soviets plan the Olympic games in Moscow. ultimately denying emigration status to all Soviet citizens. As we all know. the true measure of oppression is not the number of Jews who eventually make it out of the Soviet Union but. rather. it is the number of those individuals trying to get out of the country. According to the National Conference on Soviet Jewry. 11.000 Soviet citizens have been allowed to emigrate. While this number may sound encouraging. we must keep in mind that over 51.000 people left the U.S.S.R. in 1979. For the month of April. 2.400 Soviet citizens were given permission to emigrate. One can compare this small number to the 4.300 individuals who
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emigrate emigration visas