Moisey Tonkonogy. a Soviet Jew who I adopted as a prisoner of conscience. has received an early release from a 1year prison sentence. Mr. Tonkonogys release follows countless protest letters and telegrams I sent to Russian officials as part of the prisoner of conscience program. Mr. Tonkonogy was serving his sentence on charges of parasitism following his application to emigrate to Israel in 1973. Although his parents were permitted to leave the Soviet Union. Mr. Tonkonogy himself was denied permission on the grounds of access to State secrets during his brief service in the Russian Army in 1971. As is the case with most Soviet Jews who express their desire to emigrate. Mr. Tonkonogy was subject to continual harassment following his application.
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emigrate