Speech #970005199

I am proud to join my colleagues today in bringing the terrible injustice suffered by Dr. Viktor Brailovsky to public attention. and to voice my sincere concern for the plight of all Soviet Jews. In 1979. a total of 51.000 Jews emigrated from the Soviet Union. In 1980. this number was cut in half to approximately 25.000. This decrease is a result of the Soviets stepping up their efforts to hinder emigration. In order to apply for emigration. one must not only have an affidavit of invitation from the sponsor country. but the invitation must come from a first degree relative. that is. father. mother. sister. brother. son. or daughter. However. while emigration is falling off. the number of refuseniks is growing. These families are harassed and threatened repeatedly merely because of their desire for freedom. Dr. Viktor Brailovsky is a typical example of such harassment. Upon his initial request to emigrate in 1972. he lost his job. His home was searched twice and his personal papers. invaluable to science. were confiscated. After losing his job. Dr. Brailovsky organized the Moscow Seminar of Jewish Scientists who met to discuss recent advances in their various fields. As a result of his leadership in the Soviet emigration movement and his request for free emigration for Soviet Jews. he was imprisoned on November 13. 1980. In ill health. he has been refused proper medical care. Dr. Brailovskys case is another glaring example of the denial of legal and human rights. in direct violation of the Helsinki accords. While reassessing our relations with the U.S.S.R.. we must address these issues. human rights and equitable emigration system in the Soviet Union. In addition. we should call upon the other nations of Western Europe to help us in our efforts to enforce compliance to the Helsinki accords by the Soviet Union.*