However. we know that many countries violate this stipulation. Among them is the Soviet Union which acts as though it owns its citizens. By political fiat and bureaucratic arbitrariness. most Soviet citizens who wish to emigrate are denied that basic human right. On July 25. 1980. my own Congressman. JOHN EDWARD PORTER of Illinois. and his colleague. WILLIAM LEHMAN Of Florida. introduced a concurrent resolution. House Concurrent Resolution 389. on this subject. andas amended by Representative CLEMENT ZABLOCKIit was agreed to by the House of Representatives on July 31. 1980. The resolution calls attention to the case of Vladimir Kislik. a distinguished Soviet scientist who was not allowed to emigrate with his wife and son in 1973 and who has since been subjected to constant harassment. including threats. surveillance. interrogations. beatings. and commitment for a time to a mental hospital. The resolution calls on the President to urge the Soviet Union to allow Kislik and other Soviet human rights activists to emigrate. and recommends that the plight of such activists be raised at the Madrid review conference on the Helsinki accords. to be held in Madrid starting on Novembor 11. Kisliks case is an example of the deprivation of freedom suffered by innumerable Soviet citizens who have applied for exit permis.sion but whose applications have been denied. It is not only unjust. but also cruel. for a government to violate so clearly the provisios of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and floopertfion in Eurono relating to the reunification of families. Rnd article 12 of the !nternptioal Covenant on Civil .rd f1.4t!. P.rhvq which guarantees the right of emigration. The concurrent resolution has been received from the House and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations where I hope it will be considered promptly.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration