Speaker. I join my colleagues today in an expression of mutual concern on behalf of Dr. Viktor Brailovsky. a prominent Soviet scientist and leader of the Soviet Jewish emigration movement. Since 1972. when Viktor Brailovsky and his wife. Irina. first sought permission to emigrate from the Soviet Union. they have been subject to continuous harassment. Last November. after yet another appeal requesting the free emigration of Soviet Jews. Viktor Brailovsky was imprisoned. While in prison. his physical condition has deteriorated drastically. Now. because of his failing health. our appeal on behalf of Dr. Brailovsky is all the more urgent. According to the Helsinki agreement in 1975. the Soviet Union agreed to accelerate the processing of exit visas for all minorities. especially in those cases where family reunification is an issue. In 1980. the number of Soviet Jews granted permission to emigrate sharply declined from previous years. Freedom of religion is guaranteed in point 7 of the socalled third basket of the accord. yet Viktor Brailovsky and others continue to be mistreated in violation of the agreement. Not only do the actions of the authorities violate humane considerations. but they also violate Soviet internal law.
Keywords matched
family reunification emigrate emigration visas