In 1973. Mr. Shcharansky made his first formal application for an exit visa to emigrate to Israel. He was repeatedly denied the visa on the grounds that he was in possession of classified information despite the fact that the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology where he was employed was unclassified. Two years later. he was dismissed from the institute and worked as a tutor of English. mathematics. and physics. He also worked as a secretary for a group of scientists. Mr. Shcharansky then became active in the movement to protest emigration restrictions and helped found the Helsinki Watch Committee in 1976. He soon became closely watched by the KGB and was imprisoned on treason charges in March 1977. After almost 16 months of solitary confinement. he was tried on charges of espionage and treason and sentenced to 13 years in prison.
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emigrate emigration visa